On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle acupuncture!

We kick things off with a discussion of the practice of acupuncture and its roots in Traditional Chinese medicine. We discuss the growing industry of acupuncture in the US, specifically, and some related practices such as cupping, acupressure, and more. We shift the conversation over to health policies and public and private insurance coverage of acupuncture. Next, we chat about the conditions that are purported to be addressed by acupuncture and-- you guessed it-- the available evidence (or lack thereof) supporting these claims. We chat about some of the limitations of existing research on this topic, including difficulty creating appropriate control groups for comparison. We then discuss some potential risks of acupuncture and the importance of chatting with your clinician before deciding to book an appointment! We wrap things up with a brief discussion of the potential overlap between acupuncture and falling prey to pseudoscience and fringe treatments that don't have evidence to support them. You don't want to miss this!

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PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance.

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