The next time someone mentions acupuncture as an option to relieve that backache of yours, don’t scoff. Researchers have uncovered how it may really work.

Acupuncture originated from Eastern medicine more than 4,000 years ago and more than 8 million Americans have tried it, according to the National Institutes of Health. Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles in pressure points all over the body and manipulating them to relieve pain. The effectiveness of this treatment has remained controversial, however, with studies showing mixed results and scientists finding few concrete clues to explain how it works.

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