Iksan, South Korea, Needlework practitioners may claim various benefits from this alternative medicine. However, in stroke, research has shown that acupuncture cannot restore conditions after an attack. Apart from failing to improve the ability to perform daily activities, acupuncture also fails to improve neurological or nerve function in general. If any, the effect was not significant when compared with placebo. Dr. Jae Cheol Kong, a scientist from Wonkwang University concluded this after tracing 10 related studies. Quoted from Reuters, Wednesday (29/9/2010), most of them concluded acupuncture is not beneficial for stroke patients. The search included a number of databases and journals in Korea, to represent the Asian population. Admitted by Dr Kong, one of the limitations in acupuncture research is the lack of representation of the Asian population because it is carried out by Western scientists. There are 2 kinds of placebo used as a comparison in acupuncture studies. In 8 studies, the placebo was a sham acupuncture technique while the other 2 studies used electrostimulation or electrical stimulation in the comparison group. Unlike real acupuncture, fake acupuncture is performed at points that are not real meridians. In addition, the needle is inserted not too deep or even only in the outermost layer. However, Dr Hongmei Wu from West China Hospital doesn't want to rush into concluding that acupuncture is completely useless. Precisely because acupuncture and placebo both had little effect, he saw the potential for developing new acupuncture methods. Especially for other health disorders, the benefits of acupuncture can be scientifically proven. For example, to increase the success of IVF embryo implantation and relieve acute and chronic pain.