Acupuncture

 

 

To the Editor:

I have just completed an acupuncture course and was wondering about the halachic opinions on acupuncture and alternative medicine.

 

Editor’s Response:

There is no halachic problem with acupuncture if it alleviates the problem. However, if there is a doubt regarding the treatment’s effectiveness, it is permissible only if it will not cause any damage or if it will not prevent the patient from receiving more conventional treatment.

This principle is also applicable to alternative medicine.

An article by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner appears in Hebrew in Assia (45-46, pp. 62-68).

 

Rabbi M . Halperin, M .D .