Even I was a skeptic of alternative medicine when i first entered the field. But I was willing to be open, try, and analyze the situation. In the final analysis, and after years in the medical profession. It has become my conclusion that I should be more skeptical with western medicine instead.
Many cynics (not skeptics) value their "more intelligent observation and evaluation". This "pride" prevents them from truly analyzing the situation. Cynics can come from both the materialist and religious perspectives.
The problem with religious skeptics are more apparent. The problem with materialist cynics is less obvious to most people. What is strange is that some alternative medicine methodologies already have been proven by actual studies from "materialist institutions" and yet are not accepted by these cynics or are still (or wish to remain) ignorant about them.
Acupuncture is one of these highly studied methodologies. Many medical institutions have already proven its efficacy even if they don't know the fundamentals or cannot believe it.
Cynics continually throw the PLACEBO card. Which is just as much part of alternative medicine. Please visit my previous thread on placebo. These cynics don't even try to introspect, if placebo works, why does it work? No, they haven't thought of it.