The modern conception of acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles through the skin at alleged acupuncture points in order to have a beneficial physiological effect. This idea is only about a century old, however. Previous to this modern rebranding of acupuncture, it was more obviously superstitious—it was actually a form of bloodletting using lances or large needles, and acupuncture points were also connected to Chinese astrology, linking our bodies to the heavens. Despite this clearly documented reality, modern acupuncture is frequently marketed as an ancient treatment that is
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