Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses wire-thin needles inserted by a trained practitioner into specific points in the body. this ancient form of pain relief and stimulation is said to benefit patients by blocking channels which practitioners claim allow pain to travel within the body. this practice became more widely recognized and used after a new york times reporter wrote in 1971 of a positive experience with it after surgery. those who doubt the effectiveness of this treatment for pain attribute the pain relief to a placebo effect: if a patient believes something will reduce their pain, they will experience some relief. the national institutes of health says that acupuncture relieves pain and reduces nausea and vomiting, although it is unclear how it works. the few adverse effects reported are due to improperly sterilized needles or improper delivery, making this still a fairly low risk option. for anyone considering acupuncture, they should first research its effectiveness for their specific condition. summary of statements published by the national institutes of health after reading the passage about acupuncture, identify which statement supports the claim that acupuncture relieves pain. it is ancient, alternative medicine that has been used for thousands of years. if you do research, you can find the specific types of pain that acupuncture will effectively relieve. a new york times reporter wrote about the effectiveness of this treatment in relieving his surgery pain. the national institutes of health found it effective in reducing pain and other symptoms, but it is not clear how it works