Toothpick Acupuncture Works Just Fine

Acupuncture research keeps showing that the ancient practice relieves pain, and yet scientists become more and more mystified by just how it works. A recent study found acupuncture to be more effective for back pain than standard treatments, regardless of whether patients got poked with needles or toothpicks.

The toothpicks did not penetrate the skin like normal acupuncture needles, but still targeted the same acupuncture "points." Patients who got any acupuncture treatment reported better improvement compared to those who received medication and physical therapy.

Relief of any sort would probably be welcome for the 75 million U.S. residents who suffer chronic or recurrent pain, even if the methods remain scientifically murky.

Another study earlier this year found that acupuncture can treat headaches and migraines effectively – but faked procedures that stuck needles in the wrong places strangely provided similar pain relief. This complicates matters for scientists who hope to understand just how well acupuncture works, and under what conditions.

Meanwhile, physicians struggle just to pinpoint the causes of pain in many cases. Pain accompanies more than just obvious injuries, and may also stem from damaged nerves or a mix of other sensations and emotions.