Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese treatment of using fine needles and inserting them just under the top layer of skin, has gained a measure of acceptance in the United States today. Although the approximately 5,000-year-old technique was mentioned in some American medical textbooks in the 19th century, it wasn't until the early 1970s that acupuncture became a popular topic. Many physicians believe that acupuncture relieves pain because it causes an increase in the level of circulating endorphins that are produced naturally and tend to kill pain and have a calming effect. On July 12, 1972, the Acupuncture Center of New York, the first of its kind in this country, opened its doors.

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