Researchers prove acupuncture’s effectiveness in pain therapy

Summary

May 30, 2010: Original article explains that recent research has proven that acupuncture does indeed have a significant (and measurable, predictable and reproducible) effect on our bodies ability to cope with pain. Stimulating acupuncture points triggers the release of both adenosine and endorphins, chemicals manufactured by our body to combat pain. The 4,000-year old Eastern Medicine practice can now be viewed as having a proven scientific basis, and is definitely not merely placebo effect.

Source

Bibliography

1. Original Article

Game and Story Use

• This opens up acupuncture as a skill in high-tech and futuristic settings, even ones with a hard science theme.
  • Or, acupuncture might be a part of the futuristic doctor's arsenal, and be rolled into First Aid or Medicine skills.
• This may also open up the door for including other elements of holistic medicine and traditional medicine into a setting. If this part of the ancient traditions are true and real, then who knows what else could be, too.
• Gritty and crunchy systems might differentiate the effects of acupuncture vs Western medicine. Acupuncture skill might alleviate penalties for injury and fatigue status effects, reduce the long-term impact of critical hits, etc. So you'd still use medicine for healing, but you'd roll acupuncture to suppress the side effects and pain.
• A minor subtheme of the article talks about genetically engineering mice for use in experiments.
  • A really goofy game, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, could have some fun with this. I picture a character who's a genetically-engineered rodent that gains sentience and learns acupuncture and pressure point locations via these studies. Perhaps it also no longer feels pain.
  • You could add "acupuncture" to the character sheet of the Rats of NIMH.