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Bob, The first project I ever got involved with was to look into the effectiveness of acupuncture for PD. There is (or was) an acupuncture clinic in Santa Cruz, CA that professed to being a PD research facility. No one from the National scene ever heard of her. Her literature was incomprehensible (except to another acupuncturist but not to an MD) A few PD people in Santa Cruz had tried acupuncture, and I surveyed them. Most of them claimed it helped, but weren't sure and thought they would not continue. My daughter-in-law searched the medical records at Univ. of CA medical library. Lots of reports, but none of them were very positive. My conclusion. Acupuncture does help some types of pain by blocking afferent nerves, but it doesn't help PD. My latest hunch is that TENS (Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulator) might prove to have some value. It's the same principle that DBS works only its not implanted. Interestingly enough, Medtronics, the Pioneer in DBS first developed a transmitter with electrodes that were subcutaneous (under the skin) and implanted on the spine for pain control. They discovered TENS worked without an implant. Eventually Medtronics dropped out of that business. (I suspect because competition squeezed too much profit out of the product.) Electronically TENS unit & DBS are very similar: I think DBS puts out a frequency in or near the lower audio range. So does TENS. Both allow controls to vary the frequency, amplitude and width (time) of the pulse duration. TENS looks like a small pocket radio with external electrodes that you put across a damaged nerve. Wouldn't it be GREAT if research discovered a way to get the effect of DBS with an external readily portable device. Unfortunately, I know of no research being done with this device. I suspect because the price is so low, no one will pay for it. Does anyone out there no anything further on this subject? Bob, Hope I was of some help. Sid Levin - An advocate for stem cell research -- the potential breakthrough of the century.