Some of the 49 Western-trained doctors who began a course on this aspect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were certainly sceptical about what it could do.
But on Sunday, all 49 graduated convinced of its benefits, with some even having incorporated it into their treatments.
Dr Swee Yong Peng, the vice-principal of the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine where the doctors were trained, said the school, in starting the year-long graduate diploma class for acupuncture in English, had worried about how to get the doctors to overcome their prejudices about TCM.
So it has been a 'pleasant surprise' to see that they could not only understand, but also agreed with its principles, he said.
The top student of the class, dermatologist Derrick Aw said: 'You have to leave all your Western teachings at the door when you learn TCM. It is a totally different approach.'
General practitioner Helena Wong, who sees TCM and acupuncture as complementary to Western medicine, agreed.
