Acupuncture: a physician's primer, Part I

Acupuncture is one of the alternative therapies that is quickly gaining popularity and acceptance among both patients and doctors. The NIH has supported its use for many conditions, alone or as adjunctive therapy to conventional methods. Research has now demonstrated several physiological mechanisms to explain acupuncture's benefits. However, there are many different schools of acupuncture, and methodology and techniques vary widely, all contributing to the success or failure of acupuncture treatment. With proper use, acupuncture can be an effective treatment for a variety of medical conditions, but used incorrectly, it can be a waste of time and resources.