Stick the Needle in

There has been a steep rise in the number of Westerners using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as they search for cures and ways to improve their health.

Acupuncture is a key component of TCM, in which thin needles (typically five to 20 needles) are inserted into certain points in the body and left in place for 10 to 20 minutes.

A question mark has hung over the effectiveness of acupuncture in the Western world, due to there being a lack of scientific knowledge; however, the field of acupuncture has increasingly integrated the science and a growing evidence base of knowledge to accompany the development of new techniques and methods to treat patients.

For the past two decades,