Acupuncture / Chinese herbal medicine

[Twitcherama]

Has anyone tried either acupuncture or chinese herbal medicine to alleviate various symptoms? I was talking with a friend who has lung cancer and she said acupuncture was helping her fatigue levels. I've done 3 treatments so far and am not noticing much effect. My guy wants to refer me to someone who also does chinese herbal medicine. I tend not to go in for these kinds of treatments, but I've got nothing to lose, right?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[GregK]

oh, you absolutely have something to lose!
Be sure to check for interactions. WebMD is one site to use.

 

[lgelb]

There are certainly risks, including pesticide poisoning, liver and kidney damage, increased cancer risks and drug/condition interactions as Greg noted. A big issue is truth in labeling, because to avoid ingredients that could harm you, you have to know they are there.

I would certainly not use a product whose manufacturer/provenance I did not have ample evidence for trust, and I would scrutinize closely the credentials and reputation of any TCM practitioner who did his own compounding.

Best,
Laurie