I was searching for documented alternative therapy cases for an article. That turned out to be a lot of work and not much reward. Over and over I read, “results could not be reliably duplicated,” “results could not be confirmed.”
When a new drug comes onto the market it has been tested and reviewed ad nauseam - and a lot of money has been poured into that process. There is a lot of research and development around drugs for the simple reason that drug companies have a lot of money to invest (and a lot of money to gain) from successful testing.
There isn't a lot of money to invest in acupressure research. First of all - where would you start? There are so many modalities, all independent and often independently developed, that the research and "reproducible" elements required for documentation would have to categorized and put into a clear, concise format used by all practitioners. That alone would require a major organizational effort, but inroads are being made. The benefits to the health care system are easily recognized – less cost, fewer negative side effects, and increased general well-being.
Slowly alternative therapies are being included in doctors’ rehabilitation plans. Our local hospital, Clarinda Regional Health Center, now offers massage therapy and hypnosis, and we are investigating ways to add acupressure to the list. This is good news on many levels, not least being that there will be more clinically documented results as hospitals and clinics around the country add more alternative therapy options.
My point is that the lack of research isn’t lack of results - just complications in documentation. Be your own judge and try acupressure today!
Comments to share? Just click on the “Comments” button at the bottom, or do you have a story to share? Email me at bethsteeve@gmail.com I’d love to hear from you!
Beth Steeve, Licensed Acupressure Practitioner
Acupressure Access and Hands-On Health
www.acupressure-access.abmp.com
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