acupuncture doesn’t work as claimed, because people who seek an acupuncturist may need actual medicine, and treating with placebo is unethical because deception must occur for the response to be most effective. As for the endorphins, those aren’t anything special. You can get the same response by pinching your skin, running a mile, or having sex.

Get all your questions about acupuncture answered in one handy article.

I’m not pregnant yet and my husband and I have been trying for a while, which is pretty fun, but we recently went to a doctor to help things along a bit. (That’s a subject for another post.) When I mentioned to a friend of mine that that we are going to need a little help from the doctor, my friend looked concerned and said, “I prefer Eastern medicine to Western Medicine in general. Western medicine waits until you’re sick to do anything, but Eastern medicine is about overall health and preventive care.” He then went on to say that Western doctors want you sick because that’s how they make their money.

I immediately pictured my doctor standing outside the exam room with dollar signs in her eyes chanting to herself, “Let her be sick!  Oh, please let her be sick.” and greedily rubbing her hands while I sat on the other side of the door freezing my toes off in that inadequate cotton smock. This image is particularly funny if you’ve ever met my doctor, a lovely, smart, compassionate, funny woman who reminds me of Dr. Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy, but I digress…

My friend’s comments didn’t sit right with me and got me thinking. I’m pretty sure that just about all Western doctors would advise you to eat a balanced diet, exercise, stay rested and if you smoke, to stop. This is free preventative medicine.

Doctors do not get any kick backs from the grocery store when you buy fruit and vegetables, from the sweat suit company when you go for a jog, or from the mattress manufacturer when you get to bed at a reasonable hour.

A purveyor of eastern medicine may or may not give you the same advice, but they will also have you take herbs or receive acupuncture, which they provide at a price.

Hm.

Western doctor: ” You’re healthy, that’s great. Continue to do what you’re doing (eating right, exercising and getting enough rest) and don’t come back (or pay me) until you’re sick. “

Eastern Practitioner: ” You’re healthy…for now, but you need my help to keep you that way. You need to visit me regularly. Oh, and you need these things that I just so happen to be able to sell you.”

I get the appeal of Eastern Medicine. Regular “treatments” and taking herbs make you feel like you are doing something actively healthy, which might be more satisfying then having your doctor tell you to go away and come back when you’re sick. There is something so obvious and mundane about eating well, exercising and getting enough rest.  Those things just aren’t sexy. But in this case the obvious and mundane is also cheap and effective.

Personally, the fact that my doctor doles out free, if somewhat predictable advice, makes me trust my doctor more.