Ep. 20: Is acupuncture just a placebo? And what even is the placebo effect?

A placebo is, by design, meant to do nothing. But acupuncture is very much the opposite. It’s delivered with purpose, and intention.

“Isn’t acupuncture just a placebo??”

I can’t tell you how many times I and every other acupuncturist I know has been asked that question, usually by someone who’s keen to dismiss the legitimacy of one of the world’s most enduring forms of medicine, simply because they don’t understand how it works.

First of all, don’t knock placebos. They work. Sometimes they work just as well as the Real Thing. For example, which would you rather undergo: real knee surgery or pretend knee surgery? One study showed that they’re equally effective!¹

And secondly, just because we don’t fully understand how something works, doesn’t mean its effectiveness is solely due to the power of suggestion.

Turns out placebos are nuanced and a bit mysterious and actually quite fascinating! Is acupuncture “just a placebo?” Well, no. But…it’s complicated. So let’s dive in.

In this episode you’ll learn:

1. What placebos are and they role they play in research and development of new medical interventions

2. Theories as to how and why placebos work, including by prompting behavior changes, relieving anxiety, and the concept of remembered wellness

3. What sham acupuncture is, and why research shows that sham acupuncture and “real” acupuncture have very different effects on the body

4. Examples showing how the benefits of acupuncture can’t simply be explained away by the power of suggestion

Finally, I think it’s good to remember that placebos help people in very real and measurable ways. They remind our bodies what it is to be well, and can encourage us, in ways both subtle and powerful, to heal and be whole.

Love and gratitude,

Your Acupuncturist

P.S. This is my 20th episode of the podcast! I’m super excited to hit this milestone, and YOU can help me celebrate by leaving a rating or a review. You can do that on your podcast listening app of choice, or on my website. Thanks!

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Thanks to AudioCoffee for the music in this episode, and endless love and gratitude to my paid subscribers for contributing to the sustainability of my work!

References:

Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy versus Sham Surgery for a Degenerative Meniscal Tear

Placebos Work Even When You Know

Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Pains and needles: brain scans point to hidden effects of acupuncture

The Magic of Placebos

1. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1305189