I was apprehensive, to say the least, as the surgeon began to cut through her breastbone with an electric buzz saw. After her chest was split in two, it was spread apart with a large clamp to expose the heart. As a cardiologist, I had attended scores of such heart operations, but I had never seen anything like this. I would never have believed anyone could remain wide awake, let alone smile, through such an ordeal. Much of the evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture is, like mine, anecdotal and subjective but there have been scientifically controlled studies that have found it helpful for asthma, drug and alcohol abuse, pain management, rehabilitation of stroke victims, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Many patients describe a tingling or buzzing sensation and feel a sense of heaviness in the area.
The number of treatments depends on the condition. Acupuncture is a legitimate pain-control technique. So far I haven't noticed any difference. All rights reserved.