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BONUS Blog: Acupuncture Case Study (3 points)
Since we are covering special senses right now, this post will deal with a case study that pertains to the sense of touch and cutaneous sense receptors.
You will be required to read the following Case Study, "A Need for Needles: Acupuncture - Does It Really Work?" by Sarah G. Stonefoot and Clyde Freeman Herreid. At the end of the document, you will find your task.
To receive the bonus blog points, you will need to put together an original comparison (2 points), as well as a follow-up conclusion/decision that describes your own opinion that is based upon your findings (1 point). Recommended length: 1 to 1.5 pages.
3 comments:
do we post our comparison on the blog or hand it in to you in class?
Hmmm, good question. You can either email it to me or post it on the blog.
Acupuncture is a system of alleviating pain using needles to prick skin or tissue. It is also known for treating physical, mental and emotional conditions. It originated in China, however has become a commonly used medical practice across the world. The most common use of acupuncture is for relief of back pain, joint pain, neck pain and headaches. Although it is widely used, there are still a lot of studies being done in it’s effectiveness for alleviation of pain in different areas. Acupuncture can be considered a good alternative medicine if you are a person who is not interested in prescription drugs. A study was done in 2009 with people that had acupuncture, people who had a placebo (imitation of acupuncture), and people who received no treatment. This study showed that there was very little different in pain alleviation between the placebo and the actual acupuncture procedure, and a moderate difference between the placebo and no treatment. This cannot prove that the science behind acupuncture is inconclusive, however we can conclude that the procedure has some effect, but there is also the possibility of it being all in people’s heads. The concept behind acupuncture is to regulate the qi (vital energy), and although there is not much scientific evidence to prove that it physically works, does it really matter? Even if the whole process of being alleviated of pain is all in someone’s head, it is still a procedure that works for people. This alternative medical practice is safe and for many reliable. I think that if someone seeks relief of pain, acupuncture is a great thing to try. It doesn’t hurt to try new things, and acupuncture does not cause anymore pain or permanent damage. Also, a lot of science was thought to be false at some point in history which ended up being scientific breakthroughs later in time. Our world continues to develop as we learn more, and more about our bodies, and if it doesn’t hurt anyone, why not give it a try?
Sites Used:
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/acupuncture-for-pain.htm#introduction
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