| There is a growing understanding and | | | | certain diseases and the pain suffered by some |
| acknowledgement of the therapeutic effect of | | | | patients. They believe, moreover, in the assertion that |
| acupuncture by western medical circles. For instance, | | | | acupuncture can weaken to a great extent the hold |
| a number of medical schools in universities of France | | | | on people of some harmful addictions. As it is the |
| have added acupuncture to their curricula in recent | | | | opinion of western medicine that reduction of a |
| years. The Acupuncture Association of France has | | | | patient's symptoms and alleviation of the patient's |
| become a medical association recognized by the | | | | suffering are important steps in the treatment of the |
| French Government. Some leading members of that | | | | patient, acupuncture has come to be widely accepted |
| association entertain the view that acupuncture can | | | | by the western medical circles. |
| reduce considerably the severity of symptoms of | | | | |