More people give alternative treatments a try

More people give alternative treatments a try

FOr Nov. 30

Extensive media coverage and sometimes exaggerated claims by
practitioners can create high expectations among people eager to
improve their health or looks. The Jakarta Post spoke to people
who have had acupuncture; their experiences were mixed.

Most complained that the effects did not last as long as they
expected or that there was no effect at all.

Others who have a strong interest in alternative medicine said
that acupuncture took longer to get results than other treatments
and some were ecstatic about how well the therapy worked.

Elsa, a 35-year-old project officer at an international
organization, started to get acupuncture six years ago to lose
weight.

"I was not that convinced but I had a short treatment for
vertigo as well and that worked straight away so I decided to
give the weight loss a try. After about two weeks getting
acupuncture and taking herbal medicine I lost 2.3 kilos," she
said.

But once she stopped taking the medicine and having the
treatment Elsa regained the lost weight.

"I was not that satisfied as I've also tried reflexology and
had the same results without taking medicine."

Her friend Yanti also had the treatment but felt sick from the
medicine.

"The acupuncture did not hurt or anything, but I kept feeling
sick and I did not know what was in the pills he was giving us,"
said the 32-year-old housewife.

"I stopped but then when I saw my friend was losing weight I
decided to give it a try again, but then I gained a kilo!"

Yanti said that she had decided to eat healthy food rather
that go back to the acupuncturist.

Another women trying to lose weight said she combined the
acupuncture with sports and was happy with the results.

Dessy, a 31-year-old who works at a cultural institute, began
to lose weight after four weeks.

"I keep recommending it to all my friends now! I also had
problems with migraines and sinusitis and the acupuncture totally
cured me," she said enthusiastically.

Marta, a 29-year-old diplomat, went to an acupuncturist when
her two-month-old baby was crying more than she thought was
normal. Although she admitted to being skeptical about the
therapy she was willing to try anything to help her daughter. The
results were disappointing and she found it very disagreeable.

"The acupuncturist said that I was too hot and told me not to
drink any tea or coffee and only eat plain rice. Then he put a
needle in my ear. It was awful!" she said.

"I didn't help at all."

Although she felt strongly that it could work, Diena was
disappointed when she went over 10 times to an acupuncturist who
claimed he could help her overcome health problems that were
preventing her from becoming pregnant.

"I was shocked when I found out that the pills he was giving
me to accompany the treatment were the same one he gave to my
friend who was being treated to lose weight," said the 44-year-
old business consultant.

She continued to try other alternative therapies and said that
treatments such as reiki had produced much better results.

-- David Kennedy