Acupuncture Gaining Credibility with Americans
By Susan Tart

Chances are, your medicine cabinet is full of pain relievers, vitamins, creams, and pills prescribed from a doctor. And if you're like most Americans, you've never thought about having needles stuck in you instead.

Dr. Remy Coeytaux is one of the nation's leading acupuncture researchers. He says acupuncture is safer than many medicines.

"One of the advantages of acupuncture is that ironically even though it's somewhat of an invasive procedure—because you are using needles and you're inserting needles in people—it is safer than most medications that we use, including Tylenol," Coeytaux said.

Similar to Tai Chi, acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that is thought to restore the body's energy. The process requires sticking needles into the skin at certain pressure points to relieve pain and release endorphins.

Dr. Wunian Chen works in conjunction with Dr. Coeytaux. He was born in China, where acupuncture is more prevalent. Acupuncture has just started to gain credibility in America, and the doctors agree it has healing effects that can supplement Western medicine.

Unlike many people believe, acupuncture doesn’t hurt.

"The needles are so small and they're finely polished, and so you aren't puncturing the tissues, you're really displacing the tissues, and so there's rarely any bleeding," Coeytaux said.

Winnie Weissman is receiving acupuncture treatment for her knee. She didn't even flinch when the needles went in.

"I just take deep breaths and it's just a moment, it's just a very short moment, and I don't feel any pain at all," Weissman said.

If acupuncture is all it's pinned to be, then our medicine cabinets might one day look like sewing baskets.