And I’m sure they hope it’s lucrative. Jann Bellamy on Science-Based Medicine provides the relevant criticism and this pointed quote from a proponent’s paper:
But how does it “work”? From 5,000 papers collected in a literature search of the China Academic Journal Network Publishing Database, the authors of this article
summarized that TCM effect mechanism of catgut-point embedding therapy includes the effects of needle retaining and embedding, harmonizing yin and yang, balancing zangfu organs, promoting meridian qi, regulating qi and blood, tonifying for the deficiency and reducing for the excess, strengthening the antipathogenic qi and eliminating pathogens. From the point of view of western medicine, the effect mechanism of catgut-embedding therapy refers to recovering nerve function, regulating neural reflex, increasing human immunity, improving local circulation, inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors, reducing apoptosis, regulating cellular factor and improving body metabolism. It was found that the effects of catgut-embedding therapy were not only related to the effects induced by common acupuncture, but also to the persistent treatment through prolonged stimulation duration, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases with many systems involved.
In case you hadn’t taken your daily quota of sheer gibberish yet today.
Catgut acupuncture. How do these people waste their time so?
