Michael Shermer Tests Acupuncture

IT WILL HELP MY FLOW OF CHEESE

yes, it's an art form in much the same way that an illusionist is an artist or a sugar pill (placebo) is a cure for cancer. It isn't real in itself but it might stimulate the mind or body.

Shermer says he didn't feel and change in his "energy" or well-being after his acupuncture treatment. Of course not. He'll be the first to tell you he has no feeling of "chi" in his body at all. He has not had any practice at feeling his "chi". Most people cannot feel it naturally.

Having practiced energy arts for yrs, I feel the "chi" effects as soon as the 1st needle is placed. The best I can describe it is a feeling that my TCM doc is tuning my internal energy "radio".

Acupuncture and TCM in general is as much an art form as it is a craft.

This is what baffles the scientific method. How do you properly test an art form?

This energy, or "chi" is not something we have the technology to test, nor do we have the technology to prove if, how, and why an artist is making great art.

However, chi is something that can be perceived by humans who have developed their sensory capabilities. But it takes years of dedicated practice, like learning to play an instrument.

Correlation/causation conflation errors abound.

Amen.

PCP=Primary Care Practitioner (of which MDs are, some DCs may be depending on state and scope of practice. I think in CA, acupuncturists are PCPs)
CAM: Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
TCM=Traditional Chinese Medicine

It also happens in some acupuncture clinics--those that use various practice management consultants such as David Singer. Did a couple of clinic visits to these very busy practitioners--they see patients every 7-10 minutes. Ask a few questions from a self-report form the pt fills out in the waiting room, needles inserted, practitioner leaves and goes to next Tx room. Assistant removes needles after 15 min, pt leaves. Pt has purchased health plan and all appointments are pre-scheduled.

and about fucking wallace sampson, i feel as much respect for him as I would do for any diet guru. we need real scientist and not media clowns. he should instead look for cures to cancer as an oncologist should. protecting idiots from consuming air is a waste of time.

there was NO DEBUNKING HERE. there was a "to be continued".
I dont believe in soul, energies or any other shit related with the delution of mysticism but I work in the field of chemistry and my uncle, a great atheist and biologist, got cured from a tumor with something called qigong. he would otherwise have died. there is evidence that some of this wierd shit might work. SOME. we have to study what works and why it works. placebo or whatever you might want to call it. we must isolate that.