Does acupuncture and acupressure really work?

All I know is if you come to me for a shiatsu session (acupressure) you leave feeling amazing. On of the reasons for this that can be explained by science is that the acupoints line up with what are called trigger points. If you hold trigger points on the body for a few seconds they will relieve muscles tension and cause the muscle to relax. It feels really good. So although I don't know about particular health problems, it is extremely good for your muscles and you feel great! This is not a placebo effect because you can actually see the physical changes in a person before and after because their muscles are more relaxed. So yes they in fact do work, but it depends on what you want it to work for.

Well, the answer is actually yes and no.

Yes, it can give temporary relief of pain and anxiety.

No, because it works by activating the body's own natural placebo response. This has been shown many times in large clinical trials that acupuncture is no better than placebo.

Since we have solid science behind the placebo response,( it can be measured, tested, stopped by opiod blockers..)..and acupuncture requires the assumption of invisible energy running through invisible channels that can be accessed through invisible points on the body......by the principal of parsimony (Occam's Razor) it is the placebo response that causes any effect attributed to acupuncture.

I thought it was fake!

I sometimes get migranes and vomit. One day I was overcome with a migrane and about to vomit. I felt the heat rise to my head and the telltale lurch.

Then the heat instantly drained out of me. I heard my aunt say, "Don't look down." My aunt was a acupuncturist. I looked down and she had pins in my knees!
I was freaked out and wanted to faint, but it turns out I didn't and was OK.
I still don't do acupuncture, I don't like needles, fancy that because I am a phlebotomist!

hello. I dont know much about accupuncture but jsut last night i was speaking with a girlfriend and she had told me that she suffere from ad urinary tract infections fo almost a year. She went to accupuncture and she said it seemed to be the only thing that worked so yes i think there is definatley something there. Go in to your local accupuncture place and speak with the person themselves, im sure they will be able to answer all your questions.

The science research concludes that there is nothing to them. They take advantage of the placebo effect. Don't waste your money on the scam of ancient Chinese men.

They cannot cure urinary tract infections.

Trust me when I say this!!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! no it don't work, I have tried it 4 times for a few different things.

yes it does, some insurance actually will cover it

Yes, there's a whole science built around it.