Acupuncture can be used in the emergency department as an alternative to painkillers, Australian study suggests Acupuncture has its board of critics and advocates, each side adamant about their views. However, a new study has given acupuncture advocates an edge. The Australian study, the largest of its kind in the world, has proven that using acupuncture in the emergency department can relieve acute pain. The researchers from RMIT University in Australia conducted a trial in the emergency departments of four hospitals involving about 1964 patients with acute low back pain, migraine or ankle sprains. Due to the emergency environment, timing and ethical considerations, authors did not conduct placebo trials. But they found that acupuncture may be a safe and effective alternative to painkillers in providing long-term relief for patients with severe pain – possibly addressing the opioid epidemic. The study also built upon their previous research to show the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat chronic long-term pain.