My Qi Is All Messed Up

So today I'm going to my second acupuncture session. It's difficult for me to do because I don't buy it. I'm unconvinced. The end of my tongue is red so that means there is a problem with my heart? The dark circles under my eyes indicates a problem with my kidneys? I need needles stuck in my to get my Qi (pronounced chee) flowing correctly?

My dad was an electrical engineer, my mom was a registered nurse, and I have a bachelor of science degree in microbiology. I trust, understand and rely on "Western" medicine. But I'm trying to keep my mind open. People have told me it worked for them, so I'm thinking it might help me out in some magical way, or at least in some way that science doesn't quite understand yet.

I was told that I might feel numbness or tingling, and this is called the "Qi effect." But I really didn't feel anything during my first session. It was relaxing because I was resting on a table in a dark room with a mini waterfall and soft classical music playing. But I didn't feel that the needles did anything. I've been told that it takes multiple sessions, so I'm going again, and maybe once or twice more before I decide if it's worth it. But if a leap of faith is involved, maybe it won't work on me, even if it works on other people.

I've been told that I should trust alternative medicine because "Western medicine" is guided by capitalistic principles. There is truth to this. I'm wary of what the pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies are doing to health care. But alternative medicine, especially in a place like San Francisco, is in no way isolated from capitalism. Furthermore, "Western medicine" is also guided by scientific principles that make sense to me. You test something, and if it works then you're onto something. My understanding is that studies on acupuncture have shown it may help some types of pain, but not much else.

So why do it? Because even if it doesn't work for most people, it seems to work for some, and there aren't side effects as far as I know. So I'll keep at it - maybe I'll feel something today.