If you've ever wondered whether or not acupuncture is actually effective, you'll want to read this first-hand account of a reporter's initial visit to an acupuncture clinic and integrative medical college in Berkeley, California for her sore back.

The first part of the treatment included examining the patient's tongue for a distinct discoloration (purple), which acupuncture experts identify as a sure sign of energy imbalances in the body.

Then came a battery of questions from acupuncture students about the overall state of the woman's health, including sleeping habits and appetite.

Soon after came the actual treatment with 14 needles inserted along treatment points from a fraction to an inch inside her skin. After a 20-minute session, the reporter felt energetic, her back pain was relieved and she felt surprisingly relaxed.

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Acupuncture is certainly one of the safer alternative methods for treating pain and is among the more effective ones with baby boomers.

There's no doubt acupuncture is effective for many health problems; for example, in a recent study electrically stimulated acupuncture lowered blood pressure levels by 50 percent. Meridian-based energy therapies like acupuncture are quite useful for treating a number of health problems such as pain and addictions.

According to a pair of British Medical Journal studies I posted last year, acupuncture can be a very effective technique for boosting a patient's quality of life and avoiding pain medications that can be more lethal than illegal drugs.

So it's no surprise that acupuncture did the trick for this reporter's back pain. Should you still feel queasy about acupuncture, there's still an array of safer alternatives to treat your pain, none of which include a drug or needles.

Of course, manual therapy by a skilled chiropractor would be another excellent choice.

Related Articles:

Acupuncture 'Beats Headache Pain'

Stimulating Acupuncture Stops Nausea

Study Finds Acupuncture Secrets