Acupuncture is all placebo and here is why

Abstract

Background: Alternative and complementary medicines such as acupuncture remain popular with the general public and many clinicians. The term "integrative medicine" is often now used to describe this type of non-science-based medicine, which has become more of a faith-based method of practice, making it harder to challenge. Acupuncture is commonly used to treat headache along with just about any other symptom and condition known to man.

Discussion: Physicians regularly fall into many misunderstandings when erroneously believing a real effect from acupuncture, when there is none. A perfunctory and poorly informed media contribute to the misinformation. Sixteen logical traps are identified which together explain most of the false reasoning behind the alleged effect of acupuncture.

Conclusion: Practitioners need to do a better job of discerning truth from information and data available on acupuncture.

Keywords: acupuncture; alternative medicine; bias; placebo; placebo effect.