But the fact that even the participants receiving the sham acupuncture therapy reported some relief of their symptoms suggests that a strong placebo effect may be responsible for at least part of the improvement.

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But the committee's analysis of other innovative treatments, including yoga, acupuncture and animal-assisted therapy, is hampered by a lack of evidence on their effectiveness.

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They must inhabit an alternate reality, where magical forces flow through and around the body, and magical, pseudoscientific treatments like acupuncture, healing touch, magnet therapy, and homeopathy somehow really work.

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One of the recent NIH funded studies showed that acupuncture was twice as effective as conventional therapy for treating low back pain.

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"The finding here suggests acupuncture may be useful as a complementary therapy for people who are already on standard treatments, but not getting full relief, " he told the BBC News website.

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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and psychodramatherapy are offered, as are acupuncture and art.

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For sore backs, yoga and acupuncture appeared the most effective, and there was some evidence to also support the use of osteopathy and relaxation therapy as well as the Alexander technique which focuses on posture and movement.

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