Acupuncture has become one of the most popular and accepted unconventional therapies in the United States. An estimated 15 million Americans have tried this therapy for many different types of ailments. It's offered in many chronic pain clinics and is covered by some insurers and managed health organizations. The World Health Organization recommends it for more than 40 conditions as diverse as asthma and chronic pain. It's considered an acceptable treatment for many pain conditions including fibromyalgia and general musculoskeletal pain. It's no surprise that some rheumatologists are suggesting arthritis to their arthritis patients. You can find more information about acupuncture, as well as testimonials from many doctors, on the arthritis foundation Web site: www.arthritis.org.

So what is acupuncture? It's the use of fine needles inserted into the skin at precise points that were mapped in China thousands of years ago. It's based on energy called "Qi," which flows through the body along channels called "meridians." By restoring proper Qi to the body, you can restore health and block pain, according to Chinese theory. Blood travels with Qi, so you're also increasing circulation to the specific parts of the body you're treating. Western medicine can't seem to figure out exactly how acupuncture works, but one theory is that the needles stimulate the brain to release endorphins, which is the body's natural pain-killing chemical.

There are many studies that show the effectiveness of acupuncture for various chronic pain syndromes. Acupuncture is very safe and painless and should only be performed by a licensed physician who has completed the proper acupuncture training program. Many chiropractors and medical physicians are accredited and are, therefore, qualified to provide treatments using acupuncture. TPW