Get Email Updates from Google
British NHS Offers Acupuncture for Back Pain
The Bitish National Health Service has announced that it will start prescribing acupuncture treatment for patients that suffer from back pain.
This is a very interesting move on the part of the British government health service, as so far studies have only shown acupunture to have a placebo effect on dealing with pain, i.e. it only works because people believe that it works. Skilled acupucturists are hard to find, and poorly trained ones can cause more harm that good. However, as there is no conclusive evidence that the procedure actually reduces pain, it is hard to see why the NHS is going to start prescribing it.
Thr NHS plans to replace other common treatments with acupuncture, such as the use of TENS machines.
It seems strange that the British government are promoting Chinese medicine to cure back pain, while at the same time banning it to aid weight loss (Accu-trim beads can no longer be advertised in the UK).
Fortunately health advisors are still saying that exercise is one of the best ways to overcome backpain in the long run.
Tweet Me!Recommended Reading
• Acupuncture and Eastern Health• Alternative Medicine for Stress and Relaxation
• Government Policy on Alternative Medicine – have we seen changes in our surgeries in the last two years?
• Chi gung, qiqong
• Back Care Awareness Week October 4-10 – Tips for Managing Back Pain
