Consumer Health Digest #20-45, November 15, 2020
Experienced acupuncturists flunk at locating “acupuncture points”
Researchers from Endeavour College of Natural Health in Australia and the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine Accuracy reviewed 14 studies relating to the accuracy and precision of methods that experienced medical acupuncturists use to decide where to insert their acupuncture needles. According to the researchers: “Accuracy of point location is essential for safe, efficacious and reliable treatments and valid reproducible research outcomes.” Nevertheless, their review revealed: “Inaccuracies observed in these studies appear large enough to affect clinical and research outcomes.” They concluded in part: “The lack of accuracy and precision in qualified and experienced acupuncturists is a cause for concern.” [Godson DR. Wardle JL. Accuracy and precision in acupuncture point location:
a critical systematic review. Journal of Acupuncture and
Meridian Studies 12:52-66, 2019] In response to the review, Harriet Hall, M.D. wrote: “This study represents Tooth Fairy Science at its most ridiculous. They tried to assess the reliability of locating points that have never been shown to exist. An exercise in futility, if you ask me.” [Hall H. Do acupuncture points exist? Can acupuncturists find
them? Science-Based Medicine, Aug 27, 2019]
###
Hans Howe 