“Acupuncture? Really Mother?”

I’m not very good at arguing/debating. I think it’s my lack of ability to recall facts when needed.

This was brought to light when my mother revealed to me that’s she’s been partaking in acupuncture for many years now. My first and only real response to her was, “acupuncture? Really Mother?” Her reply was to site the time when she woke up with extreme pain from sciatica, which I’m not even sure was ever diagnosed by a real doctor, and had to “drag herself out of bed” and go to her friends house. Her friend being an acupuncturist. On a side note, I have met this friend of hers and yeah she is way weird and acupuncture is not the only woo woo she is into (hey that rhymed). Anyway she performed her mystical treatment of jamming small needles into my moms back and wouldn’t you know it “All better!”

I tried to tell her there were no conclusive studies published that acupuncture has any real effect beyond placebo and that her personal experience was anecdotal at best but, she assured me it worked. She tried to bolster her side by adding that she saw an article in a magazine that said it worked too. Then later she hit me with “Well I don’t know how it works but I don’t know how my car works either but I know it does” (non sequitur anyone?). I just responded with a “whatever mother” and told her I had to go.

In my defense I was not expecting this conversation. Plus I was in a store with bad reception and I hate talking hands free in public.

It was only after I was off the phone and had time to look back, that I started to think of many other facts to support my side of the argument but, I realized the debate would still most likely end up getting me nowhere. She has had years of her own personal experience to reassure her that it does work. I realize it’s probably not hurting her…yet anyway but, I just can’t help to think of the gobs of money she has wasted on these and who know what other treatments she been roped into. I don’t know if she has ever seen a doctor about whatever other problems she sees her friend for. I hope she has the sense to seek real science based medical care when the time comes. So maybe it isn’t a waste of time to have this conversation now with her. To try and have a nonconfrontational talk to her about this and at least plant the seeds of skepticism.

I will try to be better prepared and the next time I see her in person will be right after TAM. Heh I’ll try not to ruin the visit with Mom.