The point of accupuncture

[dieseltaylor]

They found that in mice with normal functioning levels of adenosine, acupuncture reduced soreness by two-thirds, as assessed by nerve sensitivity measurements.In mice specially engineered to lack the receptor for adenosine, acupuncture had no effect.

And during and immediately after an acupuncture treatment, the level of adenosine in the tissues near the needles was 24 times greater than before the treatment, the researchers said.

Then using a drug which extends the effects of adenosine, they found that the benefits of acupuncture lasted three times as long.

Variety of effects

Study leader Dr Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, said: "Acupuncture has been a mainstay of medical treatment in certain parts of the world for 4,000 years, but because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained skeptical.

"In this work, we provide information about one physical mechanism through which acupuncture reduces pain in the body," she added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10185247.stm

I await the work on cheap placebo medicine and then homeopathy

[gunnergoz]

Sticking needles into little mousies...they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves!

I've never tried acupuncture, but might if my back ever starts up again. Friends who have, swear by it. I guess anything is possible...

[dieseltaylor]

Worked for two people know.