In one case, he used acupuncture to solve a bowel problem that could not be solved with Western medicine. The patient was hospitalized and after extensive testing they could not find the cause. The condition occurred the following year, and after another round of inconclusive tests Dr. Fein offered him free acupuncture. He went away and he was better in hours. I don't know exactly how it worked, but it was the reason he got better.
Many people use acupuncture after more traditional methods have failed.
Both Dr. Fein and Marnae Ergil suggest that an early visit to the acupuncturist can positively influence the length of treatment. For example, with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, if a patient has the condition for three to five years, it's harder to treat because it's a chronic condition. If you come after two months, it's not as severe and thus easier to treat. This isn't saying we can't help people with chronic conditions, but it does take longer. Doctors are a good resource for referrals to acupuncturists.