The only thing that I would say is that there is no clinical evidence that acupuncture has any effect on the body at all
You're right that there's been no studies that show acupuncture inhibits dopamine in humans. However, clinical studies in animals are pretty well-established that acupuncture inhibits dopamine production. There are ethical issues, as well as methodological and technogical constrants around testing humans in the same way.
Originally Posted By: JCJ
Sorry, this is my area of work I don't mean to sound like a know-all.
Don't worry, you don't. My background is clinical psychology (though I don't work in it now--too difficult for me not to take my work home), so I know quite a bit about research in that area, too. I just disagree about your conclusions, friendly-like :). Animal studies aren't perfect, but I take them pretty seriously since there is such a dearth of human studies in these areas.
It is in the shelter of each other that people live.--Irish proverb
