Post by catharine on Sept 22, 2010 7:55:47 GMT
tvnz.co.nz/health-news/alternative-therapy-cure-con-3793523/video
This clip was an item on the news last night here in NZ on cupping (text below). Of all the alternative therapies out there, cupping has to be one of the most visually repugnant - there is something distinctly 'udder-esque' about the cups lined up on the victim/patient's back.
"A Victoria University professor has issued a warning to the increasing number of people turning to alternative medicine.
More and more New Zealanders have ditched traditional and conventional medicine, opting to spend their time and money on complementary therapy.
Professor Shaun Holt told TV ONE's Close Up that while some complementary therapies offer benefits, others are a complete waste of time and money, including three of the most common - cupping, reiki and reflexology.
But it appears that people are still more than willing to pay the price for a natural alternative.
Reflexologist Michelle Siebert said that some people feel so strongly about complementary therapy that they push traditional medicine aside completely.
"Being a natural form of therapy, clients have found the benefits to them have been far greater than that of medicine," she said.
Holt agrees that some alternative therapies do offer benefits.
"If you've got a serious illness, you want to maximise your chances, so just about everyone will either use [alternative therapies] or will think about using them.
"Take cancer for example - over half of people diagnosed with cancer will use complementary therapies," he said.
However Holt said that some therapies, like reflexology, are a con.
"It's just an expensive and misleading foot massage. If you believe that if you press your left little pinky, that will help your spleen, it's just ridiculous, it's not shown to help with diagnosis or treatment at all," he said.
Siebert claims that reflexology assists with a number of conditions.
"I've personally had great benefit with a diabetic client, [it helps with] cancer, asthma and pre- and post-operative surgeries," she said.
Reiki practitioner Uli Brell firmly believes in the power of her therapy and arthritis sufferer Martin Turbak agrees.
"It helped me to get rid of the medication and all the side effects of the medication," he said.
A session with Brell costs $100 an hour.
Again, Holt denies the therapy is beneficial to anyone.
"It's just nonsense, that energy has never been seen or detected, the studies have found it's never been able to diagnose or treat anything, it really is mumbo jumbo," he said.
One of the more fashionable therapy trends at the moment is cupping. Its supporters claim it is good for headache pain, back pain or stomach ache.
Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow is a cupping convert and Holt believes that has set off the trend.
"Some high profile celebrities have been seen with cupping marks, like Gwyneth Paltrow for example went to an awards ceremony with lots of marks and people started to follow what she was doing," he said.
Holt said that some "surprisingly intelligent" people will try cupping.
"It always amazes me because, of course, there's nothing sensible in it whatsoever," he said."
This clip was an item on the news last night here in NZ on cupping (text below). Of all the alternative therapies out there, cupping has to be one of the most visually repugnant - there is something distinctly 'udder-esque' about the cups lined up on the victim/patient's back.
"A Victoria University professor has issued a warning to the increasing number of people turning to alternative medicine.
More and more New Zealanders have ditched traditional and conventional medicine, opting to spend their time and money on complementary therapy.
Professor Shaun Holt told TV ONE's Close Up that while some complementary therapies offer benefits, others are a complete waste of time and money, including three of the most common - cupping, reiki and reflexology.
But it appears that people are still more than willing to pay the price for a natural alternative.
Reflexologist Michelle Siebert said that some people feel so strongly about complementary therapy that they push traditional medicine aside completely.
"Being a natural form of therapy, clients have found the benefits to them have been far greater than that of medicine," she said.
Holt agrees that some alternative therapies do offer benefits.
"If you've got a serious illness, you want to maximise your chances, so just about everyone will either use [alternative therapies] or will think about using them.
"Take cancer for example - over half of people diagnosed with cancer will use complementary therapies," he said.
However Holt said that some therapies, like reflexology, are a con.
"It's just an expensive and misleading foot massage. If you believe that if you press your left little pinky, that will help your spleen, it's just ridiculous, it's not shown to help with diagnosis or treatment at all," he said.
Siebert claims that reflexology assists with a number of conditions.
"I've personally had great benefit with a diabetic client, [it helps with] cancer, asthma and pre- and post-operative surgeries," she said.
Reiki practitioner Uli Brell firmly believes in the power of her therapy and arthritis sufferer Martin Turbak agrees.
"It helped me to get rid of the medication and all the side effects of the medication," he said.
A session with Brell costs $100 an hour.
Again, Holt denies the therapy is beneficial to anyone.
"It's just nonsense, that energy has never been seen or detected, the studies have found it's never been able to diagnose or treat anything, it really is mumbo jumbo," he said.
One of the more fashionable therapy trends at the moment is cupping. Its supporters claim it is good for headache pain, back pain or stomach ache.
Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow is a cupping convert and Holt believes that has set off the trend.
"Some high profile celebrities have been seen with cupping marks, like Gwyneth Paltrow for example went to an awards ceremony with lots of marks and people started to follow what she was doing," he said.
Holt said that some "surprisingly intelligent" people will try cupping.
"It always amazes me because, of course, there's nothing sensible in it whatsoever," he said."