The power of acupuncture proved its healing point

I closed my eyes, trying to forget about the dozens of tiny needles firmly inserted across my arm and fingers. I dared not move, because even a small change of posture could trigger a sharp pain, as if the long needle heads were ripping through my muscles.

This is how I sat, for two hours every day over the past month, in an acupuncture clinic in Sichuan province.

In that shabby and cramped room, I spent many long hours counting the clock, waiting for the moment for the doctor to remove my needles.