If you have low back pain, you'll be interested in this article on the latest acupuncture study, which comes out of Germany. The study concludes that acupuncture is better than conventional treatment for low back pain. The researchers also used "sham" acupuncture as a sort of control. In that group, they didn't put the needles into official acupuncture points. They also didn't put them in as far as other needles typically go, or manipulate them to activate the points. However, the "fake" acupuncture also worked better than the pharmaceuticals and other Western interventions. So, even crappy acupuncture works better!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/09/24/back.pain.acupuncture.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

If you and I walked around in public with acupuncture needles in our ears,
we might be considered foolish. But when celebrities do it, it's
considered cool. Matt Damon showed up at a movie premiere last week with
tacks in his ears for back pain. And do you remember when Kate Moss was
sporting them for her detox effort post-rehab? Functional AND
fashionable. Keep up the good work guys!

http://www.pr-inside.com/damon-sports-acupuncture-needles-at-r205520.htm

Emergency acupuncture? Before you dismiss the idea of uniformed
acupuncturists rushing to an accident scene with sirens blaring, check
this story out. Bodybuilder June Mair from Guam was on a flight to New
Zealand last week for a big competition when she collapsed into a
low-glycemic coma. She credits the Asian doctor on board for her revival.
He did acupuncture on her to stabilize her condition and the plane didn't
have to make an emergency landing!

http://www.niufm.com/?t=3&View=FullStory&newsID=2371