Worked for me. I went for serious back pain. After getting off the table, I was not only pain free, but experienced more energy that I had possessed for a long time. And as a retired RN, I saw many people who claimed to have had similar experiences.

It works for some people with certain ailments, it's not a one size fits all no more than any other medical treatment is but from personal experience I used to have regular back problems, various pulled muscles, bruised disc, spasms and even a twisted sacrum. The last time I hurt my back I'd slipped on a wet tiled floor and could hardly walk, this was three weeks before a skiing holiday. I gave acupuncture a go as a last resort having never tried it. I had three treatments and went skiing, that was 30 odd years ago. The treatment either corrected something on a permanent basis or it's a coincidence.

Acupuncture? I can't see the point...... (sorry!)

I had it for recurring elbow/neck and back problems, and found it very effective.

I was sick in China. Local hospital told me I had a tourist stomach. But I knew it wasn’t that. Locals took me to an acupuncturist and it took him 5 mins to locate I was having a gall bladder attack. Came back to the States and the old Chinese guy was bang on. I had it removed. I totally believe in it, but not if it’s being done by a New Age prick at home who did a dodgy 12 week course.

Placebo effect

Acupuncture is proof that the power of suggestion plus the placebo effect can actually achieve desired results. We peoples are delightfully naive and gullible. Did you say it doesn't always work? The prosecution rests.

Nope

Some experiments suggest it can help with pain, but that it doesn’t matter where you stick the needles in, suggesting it is a placebo effect. Even if it is real, the effects measured were minor. You would be better off using more conventional pain relief methods.

I classify acupuncture among "Things That Are Probably Woo But Need To Be Properly Refuted".

Yeah, the Eastern version of that is called IMS. I haven't read the research but I've had personal success with it. N=1 being what it is...

Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body. It is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine.

Q. Do you know what they call alternative medicine that works?
A. Medicine.

The zoo where I work had a very large goat named BOB. He was arthritic and the vets finally brought in an accupuncturist. The keepers SWORE he was better. The vets SWORE it was a placebo effect working on the keepers. Nobody asked Bob but, honestly, he did seem more active after the treatments.

If it works?? Its well known in eastern medicine. Its very effective. I have see surgories on discovery were chinese doctors performed medical procedure on the cranium without using anesthesia. Its very valid, anybody who says different has not done the research!!

Never had it myself, but my son swears that it helped him quit smoking.

I've read that the effect is placebo only.