Skeptics CircleI came across this article at the BBC about a study that claims that Acupuncture ‘cuts blood pressure’. I found this a little hard to swallow, so I read on.

What the study actually found was Acupuncture combined with electronic stimulation can lower high blood pressure. So wait a minute, they’re sticking needles in rats, then passing an electric current through them. Is that acupuncture? I thought acupuncture was an ancient Chinese healing technique. Since when did the ancient Chinese have electricity?

Either it’s acupuncture, or it’s giving people/rats electric shocks. As far as I can tell there hasn’t been any attempt to test the electric shock treatment on its own, but the article does say: When the acupuncture was applied on its own, it had no effect on blood pressure. So in other words, acupuncture, that ancient chinese healing technique, did nothing.

The lead researcher, Dr Longhurst then goes on to say: “This suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments, especially for those treating the cardiac system.” No, no, wait, it doesn’t suggest anything of the kind. It suggests that giving people mild electric shocks might have some temporary beneficial effect on blood pressure. The only thing it suggests about acupuncture is that it doesn’t do anything.

Misleading headlines like Acupuncture ‘cuts blood pressure’ give people false hope and keep the alternative medicine bandwagon rolling along. Shame on you BBC.