ACUPUNCTURE is a SHAM. OUTLAW it.

Actually, acupuncture is proven. And it's often more effective than
Western medicine (painkillers, for example).
And yes, there have been many studies of it since the end of the 19th
century. One such study group almost a century ago watched as a woman
had an ovarian cyst removed while conscious and completely without the
aid of Western anesthetics (painkilling pills). Acupuncture was the
only pain-deadening treatment given, and the needles remained in until
after the operation was complete. Throughout, the patient was
conscious, able to talk, and in no discomfort (professed or visible)
whatsoever.
Also, acupuncturists are some of the most highly trained professionals
you're likely to find outside of a hospital (and often they can be
found inside hospitals... because acupuncture is proven to work!),
unless you go to some random unlicensed practitioner, and while
needles can "puncture your organs" so can almost anything sharp, if
handled incorrectly. The training professional acupuncturists receive
is to avoid this, though the needles don't generally go so far in as
to be a threat to organs other than the skin.
You sound like you didn't know what acupuncture was before you signed
up for it, and if you experienced pain I can only attribute it to your
own anxiety (which likely also caused your stomach pains and nausea),
you moving during the procedure (again due to the anxiety), or your
going to an unlicensed practitioner to have the procedure performed.
While bleeding is always possible from needles, including acupuncture,
any bleeding should have been very minor unless you yourself tried to
move or remove needles.
Finally, if your insurance covered your acupuncture, why do you get
the refund? Or are you just looking to recover your copay?

Stop bashing medicine that you don't understand, stop questioning
other people's professional skills or the fact that they are qualified
to do what they do, and stop posting ridiculous complaints. And when
you do post a legitimate, relevant complaint, don't lose it in the
shuffle of your own presumption and judgment. The only complaint I see
here is that the clinic refused to refund your copay/insurance, and
that is completely overshadowed by the fact that you think the Food
and Drug Administration has any power over acupuncture, and that there
are no warnings about possible side effects. If you need a warning
about possible side effects of letting someone you don't know stick
multiple sharp metal objects into your body, you're as bad as the
CAUTION: COFFEE MAY BE HOT people. Here, I made a warning just for
you:
CAUTION: ACUPUNCTURE INVOLVES NEEDLES BEING STUCK INTO YOUR BODY.

I'm surpirsed you didn't threaten to sue them for discrimination.

You know those needles knew you're Latina, don't you?

Acupunture has been used in China with much success for hundreds of
years. I personally am happy that some insurance companies are
covering this alternative type of medicines.

Before you quote "Sicko" which I haven't seen yet, I'm sure it doesn't
criticize insurance companies for covering medical procedures - it
criticizes them for NOT covering procedures or making people fight for
their health care.

Now if I go to the doctor and they give me a medicine that I have a
bad reaction to which causes me to miss work, can I ask the doctor for
a refund?

And I hope that your "nautia" is better.

Just make sure you leave that one needle in that is stuck up your
butt, your letters are comical and entertaining, I would hate to see
them stop.

Oh, I bet the people in charge reading this are laughing themselves to
tears! And in other news...needles HURT!

and if you watched anything by Micheal Moore, I pity you.

Just like almost anything, not every person will have the same result.
For example, I cannot take a common antibiotic because it makes my
throat close. I am allergic. I got no refund on my emergency room
visit because these things just happen. You are lucky accupunture
didn't make you almost die and have to pay hundreds of dollars in
hospital bills. Just don't get accupunture again. It does work for
some people, so you don't have to rain on everyone else's parade!

Acupuncture works for a lot of people - but not everybody. Too bad it
didn't work for you. Maybe then you'd take your head out of your
backside.

And knock off the racist spiel already. You haven't MET racists yet!

So are you.

Let me get this straight. You are citing a Michael Moore movie as
your only research on the subject of health insurance? Cause if that
is the case, you are a flat out moron.

Wait, are you telling me that you recently had a large number of
needles shoved into you? Sweet! My voodoo doll works!

Now if I could just get this stupid Phyllis d. doll to work too.

Wait, they stuck needles in you and you "bled from some points"?
Wow, who would thunk that would happen.

Wish they would stick needles in your fingers so you couldn't type.

Way to research a subject before subjecting yourself to it. I've
heard that leaches are making a comeback, might want to see if your
insurance co. covers it and let us know.

I'm just wondering if you noticed that there were eight normal size
needles with one needle that was shorter than the others. In addition,
was it bent and not shaped like a needle at all?

Virginia,

Please do your research well before getting anything done. No Sham,
it's really not anyone's fault but yours. Not everything that goes
wrong in life can be solved by a refund. Your anxiety attact was
caused by the bill, not the service. Calling Accupuncture a quack
scam and siting "Sicko" as your main source of information just does
one thing, make you look silly.

You should know before how "these people" are trained and certified
before going. Did you ASK?

The FDA is cocerned with FOOD and DRUGS. Accupuncture is certified.

Your panic attact was caused by the bill, sue the US Mint.

I had an anxiety attact that lasted hours just reading your letter.
Who do I write for compensation? A poular website? The FCC? The FDA?
Nope I have to take the blame myself for reading it!!

You are WAY too ignorant on biology, physiology, and health matters to
even be writing this letter. You sound foolish.

Perhaps you just went to a bad clinic. I pulled a muscle in my chest
and couldn't turn my head without horrible pain. My doctor said,
"Don't move for a month." Yeah right! I was desperate. My friend
Jen has a master's in Chinese medicine and she offered to do
acupuncture on me. I was sure it was all a bunch of hooey, but I
figured I had nothing to lose. She gave me a session at 7 that night,
and by 9 p.m., I was a LOT better, and could turn my head enough to
drive safely home!

Also, acupuncture shouldn't hurt (or it may, but just a tiny bit--it's
more discomfort than pain).

You guys said it better than I could.

I'd tell you how wonderfully it worked for me, and how sad that I am
that my acupuncturist moved to Colorado, but I'm [insert ethnic
background] and don't want Virginia to call me a racist.

Viginia? Is... Is that really you?! Okay, everyone! Get out the cake
and kegs! She's back!

Maybe it was your doctor. Maybe you're just being negative. But you
can't mess with centuries of people who disagree with you. And I'm not
just saying this because I'm Asian and I have to back up my homeboys.

I had a tumor removed from my leg. It hurt a hell of a lot. I didn't
want to rely too heavily on pain meds, so I use several different
methods to control pain. One is acupuncture. I find it works quite
well.

You poke a needle in something, expect a drop of blood. Be thankful
you're not diabetic or you'd be getting it a few times a day.

What's the point of referencing "Sicko" here? Last time I checked,
Canadian health care covered acupuncture in some cases.

Needles can puncture your organs? Was he using knitting needles or
something? They're certified through government-regulated acupuncture
courses.

Aw, you think we're popular? So much that you posted it twice?

Welcome back, Viginia. Once you get going that something's racist,
it'll be like you never left.

We missed you. Welcome back!

Ive missed telling you to get a life for a few months now.

Get a life.

Does your last name start with an "L"?

Do you live in Pittsburgh?

I am sorry that the accupuncturists came to your house and held you
down and forced their practice upon you. That IS what happened, isn't
it? They only way these places could have offices that people go to
is if....(put your thinking cap on for this on, Virginia!)....they got
enough business to pay their bills!

In case you missed my sarcasm, Virginia, YOU chose to go to the
accupuncturist without researching it first. Many, many, MANY people
find a lot of satisfaction with this method of treatment. That is why
they have licenses, and why they have offices.

That this is "Virginia". I wasted a perfectly good response on this.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and does help some
people. Many people who suffer from chronic pain swear by it. Just
because it did not work for you does not mean it is a sham. Many
people swear by chiropractors and to be truthful, they do nothing for
me. However, I'm not asking for the FDA to ban them.

Acupuncturists are licensed, I know they are in NYS. Look for a
practicioner that has LAC after their name. So yes, these people are
certified. They have to go to school and everything. You can't just
decide one day that you want to be an acupuncturist.

If your insurance paid for it, why are you looking for a refund? If
you go to the doctor and the medicine he or she gives you does not
work, do you ask for a refund?

Puncture orders? I don't think so.

What is nautia? Is that a naughty Nauria?

Ah, Virginia, thanks for the laugh.

n/t

Virginia..... it works for some people. Just 'cause it didn't work for
you, don't ruin it for everyone else!