Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Research News: Even fake acupuncture beats usual care for back pain

The News:
Even fake acupuncture beats usual care for back pain, study finds
By Carla K. Johnson The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/25/2007 12:25:20 AM MDT
Chicago - Fake acupuncture works nearly as well as the real thing for low back pain, and either kind performs much better than usual care, German researchers have found. Almost half the patients treated with acupuncture needles felt relief that lasted months. In contrast, only about a quarter of the patients receiving medications and other Western medical treatments felt better. Even fake acupuncture worked better than conventional care, leading researchers to wonder whether pain relief came from the body's reactions to any thin needle pricks or, possibly, the placebo effect.

The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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