Getting pricked with needles sounds like an incongruous way to treat headaches, allergies, and an aching back. But acupuncture practitioners claim their centuries-old approach can successfully treat dozens of medical problems—with few side effects or risk of complications.
Does acupuncture work, and should you try it? Here’s what we know (and don’t know) about the practice, and how to find a stick-it-to-you specialist.
While there’s no clear answer as to whether acupuncture is a microneedle magic bullet, there’s some evidence that it can alleviate pain and might treat a range of symptoms and diseases, findings from clinical studies aimed at measuring its effectiveness are limited and inconclusive. But many skeptics argue that any benefits of getting stuck probably derive from a placebo effect.
Want to try acupuncture? The good news is that most patients who try it love it, and almost all who undergo treatments believe them to be effective. You may as well go to a certified acupuncturist. Although there are competent acupuncturists who are not certified, there are many certified ones. Make sure you don’t overpay: Our undercover shoppers found big price differences from practice to practice.
