A May 11, 2009 article in WebMD Health News reports a study funded by the National Institutes of Health as follows:

'The ancient technique of acupuncture helps relieve chronic back pain better than standard care such as medications or physical therapy, according to a new study.

Even more surprising, all three acupuncture techniques tested - including a "sham" technique with toothpicks and no skin puncturing - worked better than the usual care given for the problem.

"Acupuncture-like treatments had a positive effect overall on people's chronic back pain," says study researcher Dan Cherkin, PhD, a senior investigator at Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle. "It didn't matter if you inserted the needle or superficially poked [the skin]."'

Read the whole article here:

http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20090511/acupuncture-may-ease-chroni...