In a recent article in Time Magazine, Jeffrey Kluger wrote “The Mystery of Acupuncture.”

In the article he said the “World Health Organization has declared acupuncture a useful adjunct for more than 50 medical conditions, including chronic stress.” He went on to write that the NIH (National Institute of Health) also agrees and has endorsed acupuncture as a potential treatment for migraines, menstrual cramps, abdominal pain, tennis elbow, and nausea resulting from chemotherapy and more. “The fact the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics have embraced acupuncture and groups like the AMA have gotten states to designate acupuncture as an essential health benefit is more than significant.”

Kluger went on to say that more than 3.5 million adults and 80,000 children use acupuncture in the U.S annually. The military is using it for PTSD, pain disruption, and an assortment of ailments not the least of which is lower back pain. With all this information and these overwhelming statistics, why aren’t more of us using acupuncture?

If it’s fear of needles, you’re uninformed. These needles couldn’t be any smaller and less noticeable. As stated in the article, “The analgesic impact of a tiny needle is more than worth it.” The real beauty of this ancient Chinese practice is even if the practitioner doesn’t do it perfectly, it can’t hurt you.

Probably the most powerful potential use for acupuncture is in the treatment of addiction. Considering that more than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, acupuncture as a treatment for chronic pain is one possible alternative to OxyContin and other addictive pain drugs. Of course, spinal manipulation by a physician trained in osteopathic medicine, a DO, or a chiropractor, plus yoga, and potentially non-addictive cannabinoids are also being used.

There have been more than 19,000 papers written about the efficacy of acupuncture, and recently I saw statistics on back surgery that were less than encouraging. According to recent studies, back surgeries are sometimes as low as 30% effective. Moreover, having been personally a regular sufferer from back pain, osteopathic manipulation, exercise, weight loss, and acupuncture have all been medical gifts that have worked beautifully for me over the years.

The question then becomes, why not? Why aren’t you trying acupuncture? Is it because you don’t understand how it works? Is it because some medical professional has indicated it is “woo-woo medicine?” Or is it because you’re afraid of the tiny little needles?

Maybe it is because you’re concerned it might be harmful in some manner? If you could be assured all these are really non-issues, what else would prevent you from trying this?

I’ve often quoted the book “Change or Die” which examines the thesis that many of us would rather die than change. I’m sure this idea sounds incomprehensible to many of you, but think about it. We are inundated every day with advertising, political narratives, and scientific treatises sponsored by organizations, businesses and associations that want us to remain loyal to their financial interests.

I’ll never forget the conversation I had with a scientist who once told me that hydrogenated fats were the biggest medical experiment perpetuated on mankind without our knowledge. It prolonged the life of food on the shelves while killing half a million Americans each year from inflammatory disease.

Industrial farms, Big Pharma, the soft drink and snack food industry all have their stakes firmly planted in the ground, or more specifically in our brains, with millions or billions of dollars of advertising to indoctrinate us over the years.

One of Jerry Seinfeld’s routines talked about food from his era, including boxes of chocolate chip-filled mini cookies that were sold as cereal.

We Boomers all remember hydrogenated margarine that sat on the table all day without refrigeration, those wonderful Twinkies, and, of course, physicians who were featured in ads endorsing the health benefits of cigarettes.

Try acupuncture. It really can’t hurt you.