MODEL RELEASED: Western acupuncture. A woman with acupuncture needles in her face. Acupuncture has been known in Eastern medicine for thousands of years. The needles are inserted in parts of the body associated with the patient's pain. Chinese philosophy states that the needles restore the balance of Yin and Yang in the body. Western establishment views acupuncture as a stimulus for the production of endorphins in the body which provide some analgesic effect. Acupuncture is now a feature of Western complimentary medicine, primarily for pain alleviation and for the relief of addiction withdrawal symptoms.