Acupuncture May Help Lazy Eye

[Celebration]

http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20101213/acupuncture-may-help-lazy-eye

At 15 weeks, visual acuity with eyeglasses improved by about 1.8 lines on the vision chart in the patched eyes and 2.3 lines in those who had acupuncture.

An improvement of two lines or more occurred in nearly 67% of those in the patching group but nearly 76% of those in the acupuncture group.

Ambylopia was evaluated as resolved in nearly 17% of patched eyes but nearly 42% of the acupuncture group.

''These results suggest that the treatment effect of acupuncture is equivalent to that of patching for anisometropic amblyopia in older children," Lam writes.

But at 25 weeks, the resolution rates were similar in the two groups: 30% of the patched group and 42% of the acupuncture group.

[trotsky]

1. And once again, the effect - if it exists - is due to understood, scientific principles...

and not the magic of "chi" or meridians or any of the bullshit the woomeisters bolt on. Yay science!

Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain and eye, stimulating retinal nerve growth factors and leading to metabolic changes in the central nervous system, he writes.

[Celebration]

2. great that acupuncture does that! n/t

By the way, "chi" and increased blood flow aren't mutually exclusive.

What I wonder is the mechanism by which acupuncture increases blood flow. Why would needles increase blood flow?

[trotsky]

3. "Chi" is nonsense bolted-on magic designed to help sell the process to suckers.

But I understand your agenda - you WANT to believe in the magic part, so you'll look to find it no matter what the real evidence says. It's a non-falsifiable belief on your part.

As to your question, here's a hint: Google "endorphins".

[Celebration]

4. why would acupuncture increase endorphins?

Can you make sense out of that?

[trotsky]

6. Why yes, yes I can.

The body releases endorphins in response to pain and other stimulation of the nervous system.

Can't imagine what sticking needles in someone would have to do with pain or stimulation of the nervous system, nope. MUST be magic.

[MineralMan]

5. Acupuncture stimulates the production of Phlogiston.

The Phlogiston permeates the Aether, invigorates the Animal Magnetism, and thus stimulates blood flow. Don't you know nothing?

Sheesh! It seems like all I do is teach DUers the very basic information. :evilgrin:

[flamingdem]

7. This sounds pretty dubious nt

[HuckleB]

8. It is.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=9030

[trotsky]

9. Oh there you go with your "facts" and "evidence" again.

How dare you?!

[HuckleB]

10. I have many bad habits.

Why pick on just this one?

:toast:

[HuckleB]

11. "a spectacularly bad idea"

Stick a needle in your eye?
http://scientopia.org/blogs/whitecoatunderground/2010/12/15/stick-a-needle-in-your-eye/