Acupuncture for open heart surgery!?!

I've seen acupuncture used in dentistry - a patient with a brilliant gag reflex (nearly vomited whenever a mirror went near his mouth) had a acupuncture needle put in his chin and within a minute had impressions taken in his mouth with no problems. Was under the impression that it was smoke and mirrors combined with a bit of hypnosis - *but* it worked.

*This* link actually gives some sort of basis to how 'deep needling' works - but open heart surgery????

news.bbc.co.uk...

Anyone else have any interesting stories to relate about people sticking pins in them?

TD