Acupuncture. New Age practice. Fine stainless steel needles are inserted into a patient's body at particular supposedly significant points. Practitioners are divided into two groups – those utilising it as part of traditional Chinese medicine, and those who practice it purely for pain relief. The effects of acupuncture vary, and are often not reproducible – one NZ Cult List reader has pointed out "acupuncture seems to work on a case by case basis". For this and other reasons, the power of suggestion, the placebo effect and other mechanisms cannot be ruled out as possible causes if any pain-reducing effect or healing is actually produced by a particular acupuncture session. See Quackwatch's acupuncture feature for more information on acupuncture, including the medical dangers. The article quotes retired doctor Harriet Hall:

Acupuncture studies have shown that it makes no difference where you put the needles. Or whether you use needles or just pretend to use needles (as long as the subject believes you used them). Many acupuncture researchers are doing what I call Tooth Fairy science: measuring how much money is left under the pillow without bothering to ask if the Tooth Fairy is real.

Caution: The group/person or belief/practice has false or questionable doctrine that to varying degrees may be directly or indirectly harmful to its members/followers and their families. Such groups/people/beliefs/practices are not necessarily bad but should be approached or used with caution.

Printed on 20 January 2021 at www.cults.co.nz.
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