NEWS OF INTEREST

Acupuncture Helps Back Pain Even if Skeptical

CNN.com March 29,2007

An initially dubious reporter found that the centuries-old technique was safe and effective.

If you've ever wondered whether or not acupuncture is actually effective, you'll want to read this first-hand account of a reporter's initial visit to an acupuncture clinic and integrative medical college in Berkeley, California for her sore back.

The first part of the treatment included examining the patient's tongue for a distinct discoloration (purple), which acupuncture experts identify as a sure sign of energy imbalances in the body.

Then came a battery of questions from acupuncture students about the overall state of the woman's health, including sleeping habits and appetite.

Soon after came the actual treatment with 14 needles inserted along treatment points from a fraction to an inch inside her skin. After a 20-minute session, the reporter felt energetic, her back pain was relieved and she felt surprisingly relaxed.

The World Health Organization lists more than 40 conditions for which acupuncture is useful, including addictions, nausea and vomiting, asthma, digestive issues, sinusitis, osteoarthritis, allergies, infertility and pain relief.