Ever since the 1970s, when this ancient Chinese tradition debuted in the U.S., Western researchers have sought to understand the phenomenon of acupuncture.

    But the American public hasn't waited for the scientific answers. Growing numbers have sought out acupuncturists for chronic health problems -- when conventional medicine either hasn't worked nor has answers. According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 8.2 million American adults have used acupuncture -- an impressive number considering only an estimated 2.1 million American adults had used acupuncture in the year before.

     Acupuncture device(acupuncture pen) is used as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative to treat an ever-growing list of disorders: addiction, stroke, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, infertility, pregnancy problems, dental pain, and side effects from cancer treatment.

    "The applications for acupuncture are endless ... people use it for sports injuries, for their emotional well-being, for everything," Peter Wayne, PhD, director of research at the New England School of Acupuncture.