Neurophysiologic basis of acupuncture.

Research has shown that the benefits of acupuncture are truth, not fiction. Acupuncture effects are due to local effects, stimulation of neuroendocrine systems, and modulation of the body's electromagnetic energy. The exact mechanisms activated depend on point selection, type of stimulation, and probably time of day. The effectiveness of the treatment will depend on the disease entity treated and the skill and knowledge of the acupuncturist. Knowledge should include both the fundamental principles of Chinese medicine and the more recent scientific understanding of acupuncture's physiologic basis.