So this photo is of something metal. Does anyone recognize them? Yes they are a bunch of acupuncture needles the Woman was photographing.
So here is an interesting question. She is wondering what keeps people from visiting an acupuncturist for so long? There are stories on the news and in magazines about how acupuncture can help, but many people still only try it as a last resort (and are surprised when it works.) Leave any thoughts in the comments.
Thanks
And if you aren’t feeling so well–check out your local acupuncturist. I bet they can help.
Ohhh no!! I am scared of these needles. But I heard that acupuncture is good for the blood circulation. Maybe I should try it one of these days (= Happy Easter (=
I am sure that it is very helpful, but my Mommie and I just do not like needles. Although I am much braver than her and I don’t get as scairt when getting shots. My Mommie can be such a scairty “cat.”
The acupuncture needles actually look rather pretty. I think it is the “puncture” part that keeps people away.
Very cool photo of the acupuncture needles!
Our mom has read several scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals that indicate acupuncture is very effective for certain conditions, but maybe that information isn’t then getting out to the popular press? Perhaps people are afraid that the needles will hurt? Maybe people still think of it as “quackery” instead of a legitimate treatment.
Our mom knows several physiotherapists who also offer acupuncture in their practices, and has had running friends who have been helped by acupuncture. She hasn’t tried it herself yet, but certainly wouldn’t hesitate to try it if she was ever injured and the injury was one that could be helped by acupuncture.
It is likely that most people simply don’t like the thought of needles, though, or are afraid it will hurt. Our mom is weird, she actually watches when they draw blood, since she is fascinated by the human body, but she knows most people aren’t like that.
Ouch! We are not sure the ‘puncturist’ could get thru all our furs to find the right spot! But the Zoolatry Human has had this done and says it really really helps a lot…
Mummy’s had acupuncture to try and help with her constant back pain, while it didn’t help with pain much, it did help her sleep and she’s had less insomnia since, so that’s a good thing! ๐
Maybe we will suggest this to our dad since he has a bad knee.
Mindy & Moe
Gee,I’m not sure why people do not go.Mom says needles aren’t so bad,she dosen’t mind them.
Your Mom’s look pretty and shiney ๐
Purrs Mickey
I was going to do article on acupuncture in kitties as part of the aging series I am doing at House Panthers. Of course, I’m questioning the wisedom of being poked with needles.
Bean says this strikes here as valid as any other treatment she’s had. They just put you in more pain so you’ll forget the pain your in!
Chey – I think your picture tells a big part of the story… lots of people (including Mom) don’t like needles & the thought of them just makes them put it off to last resort
Both of my pet humans are acupuncturists too. One treats humans, the other treats dogs and sometimes cats. The needles really don’t hurt… i guess most people are weenies!… cos the dogs and cats never complain during their treatments!
Be brave….go get needled!
xoxoxoxo
Needle phobia. Sticky pointy hurty things, but they are very pretty.
I really don’t know why people hesitate. I think it is absolutely a great thing ! But I also realize that there are more and more people going and even animals are treated with acupuncture.
Chey,
Mebbe it iz becuz of da SIZE of doze needlez in da pic. If your momee iz stabbin peoplez wit doze, I don’ts wants to be around to see da shreeeeeekin’ dat will be goin’ on.
That’s a good idea for the “metal” theme! I would definitely go see an acupuncturist if I needed to.
very interesting post..am glad i visited this website..thanks for the info..
anyway, my metal entry is up here
http://pinay-wife.com/2008/03/metal.html
hope to see yeah there
Mom would try dat…how much should it cost? She used to go to a massage therapist every couple of weeks and inshurints paid fur one a month so it wasn’t so bad. Den da massage therapist said she should try accupuncture fur her ouchie elbow and shoulder but inshurants wouldn’t cover even one treatment! Maybe if it were covered more beans would do it.
wow, needles? uhm, we’re so afraid of them! and, even mommy is too…tradiitonal healing method is good way for medication, even mommie’s doctor is also using “accupunture” too but without needles, coz her doctor is using chronosonic ultra sound, the tools seem similar to USG stuff for pregnant women, but is it works well furr our mommie when she got lymphadenitis tumor in 2006.
Though things get rough lately, Meaouwy Troops still like to share their furryfriend story about the unusual mark on her body and helping mommy disclose one of the reasons why we become the best communicator with humans:) so check them out in our blogs to find it more.
Nice “METAL”. But we dont trust needles…
I have not tried using these needles before as I’m afraid of getting contaminated ๐ I have seen some here using some low current to pass some electricity through them. I wonder if it really works.
Great sharing Chey… Hope to see you win in the campaign soon ๐
I wish my mom lived near your mom. She NEEDS an acupuncturist! She has severe scoliosis and severe cervical spine problems – bulging disks, narrowed nerve canals, spurs, arthritis … She’s in physical therapy and getting trigger point injections for the terrible muscle spasms, but nothing seems to help!
Rocky
Brilliant post for metal today! My mother had acupuncture for her dog at one point and it seemed to help!
mom looks at those and says ‘well…do they hurt?’ and then she says ‘they can’t hurt worse than a bad iv’. (she knows bad iv’s. when she had surgery in january, the anesthesiologist hit scar tissue and didn’t understand why mom cried.)
Purrty needles! But we don’t want none fanks!
Purrrrrrrs,
Sanjee
Robyn kidnapping comments here:
Several thoughts on why acupuncture isn’t used more, from my observations. First off, the big needles in Western medicine have given all needles a bad rap. People just don’t know that acupuncture needles are hair-thin, since they don’t need to shove liquids into you.
Second, most people are used to being whacked hard by Western medicine, such as antibiotics that make you puke, extremely dramatic effects, in other words. Acunpuncture is often more subtle in its immediate effects.
Third, money. While some health insurance will pay for acupuncture, many still won’t including gov’t assistance for folks on disability, or will only pay for a very limited amount. And for those of us with chronic conditions, that can become a huge financial burden if insurance won’t pay for it over time.
Fourth, the Western medical establishment undermines Eastern medicine’s value by reminding people things “well it has to be done repeatedly for some injuries or chronic conditions” as though that weren’t just as true for Western medicine. I mean, I’ve yet to hear of a pill for something that will just wipe hardly anything out immediately, but because of tradition here and the doctor hesitating about acupuncture people will often choose what they’re used to.
Five, laziness. It’s easier to take a pill every day than go to an acupuncturist every few days. Nevermind that acupuncture may help the condition better and not give the nasty side effects. We humans are so often lazy.
Shutting up now ๐
Robyn
HOPPY EASTER FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!!!
Happy Easter Chey & family.
I never thought about acupuncture before, so unfortunately, I guess I fit into the article about people who wait until it’s a last resort.
Thankfully, I don’t have any major ailments yet.
-Icon’s mom Alison
Happy Easter!
Teleport over for some ham at 5 PDT.
DMM
Just wanted to stop by and wish the Prime Minster of Italy and her family a very happy easter! Sending our love from Italy!
Buona pasqua!
Love,
Opus and Roscoe
ps. Our human thinks people don’t try it because most of the time health insurance won’t pay for it and it can be $$$$$$.
Our cat Oliver has been to an acupuncturist. A vet who specialized in large animals, Ollie was his first cat. Ollie had been hit by a car before he came to live with us and although nothing had been broken, it was out of place. The doc did a little chiropracty on him, then the needles. The first three visits went well, the last, the vet hit a nerve and Ollie bit me and the vet proclaimed him “cured”. And he was a lot better and much less bitey after that when touched on his lower back. Made believers out of us, for sure.
Mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis and would like to try this, but as someone mentioned, the expense is holding her back.
We are glad it’s helping people!!
~ The Bunch
Happy Easter Chey and Gemini! Our momma used a tennis ball in a sock, rolling it against her shoulder on the wall, for trigger point therapy when the back of her shoulder was hurting and it helped! There are all sorts of things that will help our beans and us, aren’t there!
Purrs and headbutts,
Sabrina, Sam and Simon
Excellent question, Chey. The answer is, “The public has a mental image of non-MD’s as quacks.” It’s the same thing that kept Mom from seeing a chiropractor for years & years for her sciatica & herniated disc. Now, she swears by the chiropractic adjustments since it’s the only thing that helps with the pain.
Perhaps once you’re elected you should do a public service campaign for acupuncture as an alternative form of pain treatment.
George
They sure look similar to me like a dental or dentists tools
Wouldn’t accupuncturist’s tools be somewhat narrower in girth ?
No those really are acupuncture needles. We know. The Woman is an acupuncturist