Acupuncture treatment.

[Brandi]

So yesterday for the first time I went and had an acupuncture treatment. I have had for about 12 years off an on heart palpitations. I have been to a few Dr's about it had the work ups. And they always say "we can give you a pill" or you need to calm down blah blah blah. I have cut coffee out of my life (sadly) and I watch what I eat (most of the time) get good sleep. Meditate, yoga, bike etc...I am not perfect I am sure I could cut more things out that might help. But Stress makes them come about then my brain takes over and I have these bouts of them off and on. Well we had a VERY stressful begining to our work year. Basically it was lack of work. My husband started having panic attacks for the first time over it and I eventually started having palps again. Since things have improved but my heart palps have stayed longer then I would like. I will say i get obsessed thinking about them. Hence why I meditate. So I decided to try another route and have started acupuncture. Yesterday being my first treatment. I was just wondering if anyone has had luck with this and if you could advice me. I am thinking I would not notice an improvment right away Though I did feel at peace after it was done. But my palps are still there. Trying to not think about them. Ha and here I am writing about them. I am on a beta blocker for them but not helping much this time around. My brain is overwhelming sometimes!

[Caddy]

My mom had acupuncture treatments for the same reason and she had the same reaction that you did - calmness afterwards, but if there was ever a stress situation, it would kick up again.

[Brandi]

My mom had acupuncture treatments for the same reason and she had the same reaction that you did - calmness afterwards, but if there was ever a stress situation, it would kick up again.
You say had? Is she still around? Did she ever find any relief from them?

[Crankin]

I did acupuncture for 2 years for various physical complaints and anxiety. It does not work right away. I would say it took about 6 weeks to feel the effects, although I had the same calming sensation you describe after each treatment. Then one day I realized I was better.
However, I was also doing yoga, meditating, and other things that may have helped. Keep at it. It takes awhile.

[Caddy]

You say had? Is she still around? Did she ever find any relief from them?

Did not mean to imply that she is no longer around :eek: She stopped because the treatments did not work for her in the long term (she retired recently so her stress level has gone down dramatically and it has been a long time since she's had an episode). She does have plenty of friends who swear by acupuncture, though.

[shootingstar]

It's good Brandi that at least you've tried meditation (and never give up. Mindful breathing, etc. is good in general), etc.

I knew someone who took acupuncture several times per year to help deal with severe migraines. These are severe enough that she must be in a completely dark room, her vision is affected, etc.

[jessmarimba]

Also, just be aware that some acupuncturists are "better" than others, or more or less in tune with what you need. I had it done once for tendonitis in my ankles, and the needle point on the bottom of both of my feet swelled up like crazy for a few days. I've had other experiences that were much better. So if, after awhile, you find that you aren't compatible or it isn't working like you'd hoped, don't necessarily give up on the idea of acupuncture as treatment.

[jelee1311]

I have been doing accupuncture treatments off and on for about 15 years for various iinjuries and what Jess said is right some practioners may be a better fit than others. Treaatments aren't a magic wand,I was told give at least 5 treatments. My last series was for my achilles tendonitis,I used it for pain and stress and less for specific tendon healing. It seems to really work -for me.You might try asking your practioner for ear seeds for a longer lasting effect (small seeds in your ears on points. They don't hurt) I also use chinese herbs but I'm not sure how that would affect you medications. For me some of the best stress relief has been riding my bike. I hope you can find something that works for you,don't give up on accupunture yet.

[Sky King]

another thought, my sister had heart Palp. issues and discovered it was hormone related

[goldfinch]

There is no solid theoretical basis behind acupuncture. Reviews of acupuncture research indicates that most of the research is of poor quality and the better research shows that it doesn't work any better than placebo (sham) acupuncture. As time passes a health problem may away of its own accord, or ebb and flow. So, multiple treatments or giving the treatments time to work, may not be at all related to feeling better. I mention all of this with reservation but I see too many people waste too much money on treatments that don't address the underlying problem and acupuncture is not without risk. I think it is worth looking at the science.

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/01/can_we_finally_just_say_that_acupuncture.php
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/category/acupuncture/

[Melalvai]

There is no solid theoretical basis behind acupuncture. Reviews of acupuncture research indicates that most of the research is of poor quality and the better research shows that it doesn't work any better than placebo (sham) acupuncture. As time passes a health problem may away of its own accord, or ebb and flow. So, multiple treatments or giving the treatments time to work, may not be at all related to feeling better. I mention all of this with reservation but I see too many people waste too much money on treatments that don't address the underlying problem and acupuncture is not without risk. I think it is worth looking at the science.

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/01/can_we_finally_just_say_that_acupuncture.php
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/category/acupuncture/

The placebo effect can be very strong. So if you find something that works for you, stick with it even if all the research shows it is "just" placebo. The nice thing about placebo is it doesn't have the side effects of many drugs! A friend of mine had been on so many medications, pretty much her entire life, and decided that she was tired of them all. So, with her doctors' help, she got off all of them. She has celiac and some food allergies, so she went on a pretty strict diet, no wheat, soy, dairy, sugar, and no meat because she's vegetarian. (She had already quit caffeine & alcohol.) And she started acupuncture. After 10 sessions she dropped the acupuncture but kept all the other changes. She said the acupuncture didn't seem to do anything, but I was glad she had it as part of her getting-off-meds, because it made it a little less scary.

In other words I also believe that any acupuncture effect is placebo, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, if it works for you. You might think about quitting sugar. She'll have a bit of sugar once in a while, and the very painful cramps come back when she does. But it's hard to quit sugar, it's all around us all the time, and a stressful time of your life is maybe not a good time to try it.

I hope business has picked up, or that you've found other employment.

[goldfinch]

The placebo effect can be very strong. So if you find something that works for you, stick with it even if all the research shows it is "just" placebo. The nice thing about placebo is it doesn't have the side effects of many drugs! A friend of mine had been on so many medications, pretty much her entire life, and decided that she was tired of them all. So, with her doctors' help, she got off all of them. She has celiac and some food allergies, so she went on a pretty strict diet, no wheat, soy, dairy, sugar, and no meat because she's vegetarian. (She had already quit caffeine & alcohol.) And she started acupuncture. After 10 sessions she dropped the acupuncture but kept all the other changes. She said the acupuncture didn't seem to do anything, but I was glad she had it as part of her getting-off-meds, because it made it a little less scary.

In other words I also believe that any acupuncture effect is placebo, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, if it works for you. You might think about quitting sugar. She'll have a bit of sugar once in a while, and the very painful cramps come back when she does. But it's hard to quit sugar, it's all around us all the time, and a stressful time of your life is maybe not a good time to try it.



I don't entirely disagree but have reservations. If an underlying problem needs fixing the placebo effect will not fix it. So, the risk is that an effective treatment is not sought. For example, people with asthma treated with acupuncture sometimes feel better--the placebo effect. But their lung function is not better. They just think it is. So, the treatment is worse than no treatment at all because you don't know your lung function is impaired. Also, unlike less invasive placebo treatments, acupuncture does have risks. You may have no positive effect and keep trying and trying treatments, wasting time and money. You may get better on your own and think it was the treatment, also wasting money. The placebo effect also tends to "wear off" with the passage of time. So you get a temporary boost in feeling better but you end up back where you were.

If a problem is anxiety related there are better ways to address the issue. Relaxation techniques aren't invasive and aren't a pill and can be effective.

I just generally have a problem with misleading people and that is what practitioners are doing, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

[Brandi]

I really appreciate the positive and the objective views on this subject. I understand the placebo effect may bother some. But I believe the mind is a trick player in all this. Mine is subject to believing things that aren't there. But if it works who care's? I am not doing this wrong in any way. I am taking med's for this but they are not working well. And I am too young I believe. But I have been a stressed person all my life. Thanks in part to very immature parents who put me in a position at a very young age to be responsible for 2 young children and a house. So I have carried some of this stress into my adult life. But I am dealing with it. Like I said I do yoga, meditation, biking, hiking and art. But I believe that Dr's are all to quick to give meds. My Dr is open to other things I want to try as long as I keep him informed. And I do believe that research has given this form of treatment a better look and believes for some it does help. If it works who cares right? I was looking for answer's as far as how long it takes to take effect.Oh and my insurance pays for 70% percent of it. Which considering how much I pay for insurance these days and not use it a whole lot, I am happy to get something as relaxing as this from it. :)

[shootingstar]

The placebo effect can be very strong. So if you find something that works for you, stick with it even if all the research shows it is "just" placebo. The nice thing about placebo is it doesn't have the side effects of many drugs!

I do think at least the patient be aware that it may be a placebo, not a cure-all.

If the placebo "effect" last for several months with only 1 acupuncture treatment for certain types of ailments, instead of prescription drugs, and the acupuncturist is licensed (in most Canadian provinces acupuncturist is licensed, a recent development I believe), then I would tend to support it.

My sister is an emergency physician and family physician. (trained in Canada) She is not against acupuncture for certain situations, goldfinch.

I give this opinion since I already have a sister who is a pharamcist at a teaching hospital. Believe me, there is enough discussion in my family among licensed professionals about drug therapy.

Sometimes I think the mind is a strange, powerful thing at times. Not always, but sometimes and even the patient/person cannot explain it.

[sookiesue]

I had heart palpitations several years ago, and was diagnosed with low thyroid. Did your doc check your thyroid? Getting my thyroid level to normal, as well as making sure to stay hydrated made a big difference. Also taking some magnesium supplements helped. I have used acupuncture for years and found it to be effective for everything from quitting smoking to allergies to alleviating sore knees. I think of acupuncture as a complementary medicine - be sure to check in with your regular doc to make sure all is well, but if the acupuncture helps you, stick with that, too.

[ClockworkOrange]

When I was in the middle of selling my house, I had some spare money and without giving it much thought, paid out about £500 on acupuncture to help with various menopausal symptoms, took several months but it definitely helped and I am usually very sceptical of things like this.

[Brandi]

Everyone has there opinions as this kind of thing. I do believe it can only help me. I can if I think about make a heart palp happen which is why I almost certain it is all in my head. My Dr's both gp and gyno are aware I suffer from these. My thyroid has been checked though I am due for another round of blood test. It does run in my family. I just can't run to the Dr every time I have bouts of it. I find the more relaxed I am the better they are and eventually go away. I have totally given up coffee. Cut back at first then gave up totally. Finally used to waking up without it. That was tough. But now I have spicy aztec chili tea in the morning. Has a nice kick that helps me wake up. Anyway the past few days I have felt better. Got in a tiff with hubby yesterday and had to really control my emotions from getting out of hand. Heart palped a little but breathed through it. I am not someone who yells back. Actually we don't yell. But you know what I mean. I don't have a whip tongue and don't fight well. Anyway breathed through it. Meditation has been a great tool.