Results
The benefits of acupuncture are sometimes difficult to measure, but many people find it helpful as a means to control a variety of painful conditions.
Several studies, however, indicate that some types of simulated acupuncture appear to work just as well as real acupuncture. There's also evidence that acupuncture works best in people who expect it to work.
Acupuncture has few side effects, so it may be worth a try if you're having trouble controlling pain with more-conventional methods.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763
As far as something that instigates positive results, whether they be placebo or not, I see no reason not to use it. Especially in the elderly, who often have struggled to find relief via other outlets.
This is much better than a lot of elective surgeries that are recommended by various physicians. I'm sorry you personally don't like it, but if it helps people feel better, that usually results in a net savings of money for the tax-payer.
Placebos often do help relieve pain. It doesn't mean you want to rely on them long-term, let alone subsidize them.
I am not enough of an expert to say that acupuncture doesn't have reasonable discernible medical benefits, but I am more than willing to defer to the Skeptics in the medical community.
