But normally, acupuncture is calm and soothing. I’ve had acupuncture done to me several times and I’ve never fainted. I almost fell asleep once because I was so relaxed, but that’s beside the point.
And that was with my fear of needles at ten years old (I was a wild child and would get a variety of injuries).

I recommend it, since it does help and it is a great experience. And a few years ago, my mother suffered of a terrible back ache and cramping and stiffness that wouldn’t let her move at all without causing her great pain. She went the the acupuncturist and when she returned, she was almost completely healed. I used to be skeptical, but I have great faith in acupuncture now.
References :
personal exp.

Acupuncture only works by placebo effect, certified acupuncturist is as valid as certified witchdoctor, both work on gullible people only.

Just because acupuncture is ancient, eastern in origin, has very impressive charts showing so called ‘energy lines’ and has the mysticism of sticking pins into these lines, all helps with the placebo effect.

Trials where needles were inserted into non acupuncture poits, or using sham needles, ie needles that looked as if they were piercing the skin but actualy retracted both gave the same results as ‘true’ acupuncture.

EDIT: "If it’s a placebo why is it used and works on animals."

This old chestnut is often thrown up by people who think that things like acupuncture and homoeopathy actually work on animals, and therefore can’t be a placebo effect, WRONG!! It’s called ‘Placebo by proxy’, there is not a shred of proof that these alternative medicines work on animals, only the anecdotal reports by people who already believe that it does.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=263

http://skeptivet.blogspot.com/2009/07/placebo-effect-in-animals-and-their.html
References :
http://www.skeptics.org.uk/article.php?dir=articles&article=acupuncture.php

If, as someone else mentions, the pain was more a dull, distending sensation, or mild ache that is tolerable it is a common sensation. This is not generally reported as "painful", so much as the patient is aware of the needle.

Side note – 42 states regulate the practice of acupuncture.

Edit – Claims that acupuncture is not regulated in the United States are patently and blatantly false. It is regulated at the state level and as noted above the vast majority of states do regulate non-MD acupuncturists.
References :
Certified Acupuncturist. <~ Title granted by the state I reside in under the statute governing acupuncture 8~)

And as a note to William T there may not be state regulation of acupuncture yet, but any decent acupuncturist should be a member of a voluntary regulatory body. These ensure high standards of practice following codes of conduct and safety. Unfortunately, the title is not protected so it is quite possible that somebody can practice with little or no training. As a patient you should check if your acupuncturist is a member of any regulatory body and what level of training they have.
References :