Almost 80% of the treatments for all types of illnesses have been developed by western science. Western medicine, also called conventional medicine, is based on facts; thus tested and proven to work. Because of its guaranteed effectiveness, it often costs a lot. For this reason, people turn to the other 20% of the treatments. While these alternative options have no scientific base, they have been known to work. As a result, the medical community advises that these are only for supplemental medications, not as replacement.

The Chinese have contributed many alternative options to treat diseases. They are credited for the discovery of different plants that can be developed as medicines or maybe processed to use as treatment for illnesses such as asthma. The Chinese are not only recognized for their use of herbal medicines but are also given credit in practicing acupuncture.

Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being. It is only one of the many therapies used in Oriental medicine. It has evolved from principles and philosophies of Oriental thinking and medicine and is only performed in accordance with those principles for maximum effectiveness.

Diseases such as asthma are treated as an imbalance of forces in the body. Oriental thinking states that energy flows through the body along specific paths called meridians. When needles are inserted in these paths, the energy is either rerouted, or balanced, or the balance is modified for the benefit of the patient.

For asthma, long, thin, and sterilized needles are placed under the skin on specific points in the upper back. A warming sensation or numbness is then applied. This can be done by manually rotating the needle or by passing a small electric current through them. The needles are then left in place for about twenty minutes.

Since acupuncture is a sensitive treatment, it is only performed by a trained professional. It is seen as one of the best ways to treat asthma without the help of conventional methods and has grown in popularity among asthmatics. While acupuncture has shown promising results in asthma treatments, it is not accepted by the medical community yet due to the lack of scientific facts on how it works.