Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses wire-thin needles inserted
by a trained practitioner into specific
points in the body. This ancient form of pain relief and stimulation is said to benefit patients by blocking
channels which practitioners claim allow
pain to travel within the body. This practice became more widely
recognized and used after a New York Times reporter wrote in 1971 of a positive experience with it after surgery.
Those who doubt the effectiveness of this treatment for pain attribute the pain relief to a placebo effect: if a
patient believes something
Health
will reduce their pain, they will experience some relief. The National Institutes of
says that acupuncture relieves pain and reduces nausea and vomiting, although it is unclear how it
works. The few adverse effects reported are due to improperly sterilized needles or improper delivery, making
this still a fairly low risk option. For anyone considering acupuncture, they should first research its effectiveness
for their specific condition.
Summary of statements published by the National Institutes of Health
After reading the passage about acupuncture, identify which statement supports the claim that acupuncture relieves pain
