“Many Western doctors now accept that it does work. We know acupuncture cause the release of endorphins into the body and stimulate our immune system, so help the body to heal itself. It is generally considered that the muscular–skeletal & neurological and mental-emotional problems are most responsive to acupuncture but it also treats a variety of health and beauty problems. With more research, the treatment has gradually been accepted into mainstream medicine.” Dr Mike Cummings, the medical director of The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) said.

Acupuncture arrived in the west in the late 1930’s, but it has been regarded with the utmost suspicion until recent days. Now greater and greater recognition has been gaining in the western world, the successful result patients are experiencing is spreading both word of mouth as well as articles in the media

Cancer – The research from University of Manchester scientists looked at how acupuncture could relieve fatigue associated with chemotherapy. They split 47 patients into three treatment groups: acupuncture, acupressure – applying physical pressure in the same acupoints, and “sham” acupressure – applying the pressure to the points not associated with energy and fatigue. After 3 weeks of frequent treatments, patients in the acupuncture group reported a 36 per sent improvement in fatigue levels and the acupressure group 19 per cent. The sham acupressure group reported 0.6 per cent improvement.  But does it work? – Julia Frater of Cancer Research UK says the use of complementary treatment to deal with side effect of cancer treatment is becoming big news: “Often there is limited evidence to support these approaches but some people fine them helpful. There is also evidence that acupuncture may help control nausea and vomiting in people who are having chemotherapy and it may be very useful to help control pain.”