Re: OT: To scoff or not to scoff

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On Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:43:31 +0000, Nicky
<ukc802466929@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:22:57 +1300, Quentin Grady
<quentin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

How do you feel about acupuncture?

Are you are a scoffer?
Perhaps you will go so far as to say it works by suggestion.

Hubby had an interesting experience with acupuncture recently. He's
been off work with a herniated disc for a year, and is regularly going
to on osteopath because the manipulation helps. The locum one
suggested acupuncture, saying that the minor assault from the needles
stimulates circulation in the affected areas, and often helps
inflammation. That was an explanation we could live with, so he gave
it a go. Twice - a week apart. The second session was so unbearably
painful that he can't bring himself to repeat it. No change to the
back, but the acupuncture is a longer-term thing.

G'day G'day Nicky,

My personal experience is limited to acupressure so I can't comment
on the pain issue relating to the needles. My understanding is that
very fine needles are normally used so I'm surprised the experience
was painful. FWIIW, I do notice that the locum used the phrase minor
"assault." Pain as I understand it is very much a matter of
perception. Perhaps there was an element of negative suggestion in
this situation.

Acupressure is often a matter of rapid temporary relief. When someone
suggests something is a long-term thing, I'm a little suspicious.

A lot of things get better of their own accord given time. OK,
obviously the herniated disc wouldn't fix itself but perhaps the
inflammation would settle down.

While shopping in an organic supermarket I came across a book entitled
"Full of it" and subtitled "the shocking truth of about gluten".

"Full of it" would trigger my scoff reflex : )

It certainly did mine.

Never the less it could be relevant to some T2 diabetics.
It could also explain why some T2 diabetics who make a dramatic shift
into leaving out bread, pasta and potatoes when first diagnosed
experience a dramatic improvements in feeling better. I'd assumed it
was from better blood glucose control. Now I'm open to the idea that
there might be a second reason supporting the first.

My own experience is that I did indeed feel dramatically better after
giving up excess quantities of carbs - but it was related to the carbs
(and therefore presumably bg/insulin levels) and not to gluten
presence; I happily eat bread of some sort made with gluten rather
than flour most days. I am interested in the cumulative effect
buckwheat and spelt seem to have, though; that might fit the
hypothesis.

Spelt is hooded wheat. A bloke who did some of the analysis of spelt
comparing it with ordinary wheat said in his opinion there was not
enough difference for people who were allergic to wheat to be not
allergic to spelt. On the other hand some people swear by it.
Which are we to believe?

Buckwheat is quite different. It isn't even a grain. Buckwheat
doesn't even belong to the grass family. I grew some one year. It has
broad flat leaves and had little white flowers that attracted insects
completely unlike a grass. The insects that were attracted to it
needed the pollen to be able to make fertile eggs. The insects were
beneficial in the garden reducing the incidence of aphis.

Buckwheat (for those not allergic to it) would seem to have a number
of benefits for T2 diabetics who can manage the carbs. For instance
it helps reduce insulin resistance slightly. It is rather a good
source of some minerals.

However, my son would like to
spend some time with me and I'd like to spend time with him, so it
must wait.

A fantastic reason for delay :D

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.6% BMI 25

Thanks Nicky,

Best wishes,
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
.