Acupuncture Demystified via The Wall St Journal

Acupuncture has long baffled medical experts and no wonder: It holds that an invisible life force called qi (pronounced chee) travels up and down the body in 14 meridians. Illness and pain are due to blockages and imbalances in qi. Inserting thin needles into the body at precise points can unblock the meridians, practitioners believe, and treat everything from arthritis and asthma to anxiety, acne and infertility.
· Arthritis of the Knee: Acupuncture significantly reduced pain and restored function, according to a 2004 government study.

· Headaches: Two 2009 reviews found that acupuncture cut both tension and migraine headaches.

· Lower Back Pain: Acupuncture eased it in a big study last year, but so did a sham treatment where needles didn't penetrate the skin.

· Cancer: Has proven effective in reducing nausea and fatigue caused by chemotherapy.

· Infertility: Improves the odds of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization, according to a 2008 review of seven clinical trials.

· Addiction: Often used to help quit smoking, drinking, drug use and overeating.

After decades of cynicism, Western medical experts are using high-tech tools to unravel the ancient mysteries of how acupuncture works.
WSJ HEALTH JOURNAL MARCH 22, 2010


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