Summary: … general anaesthesia can block the effect of acupuncture, as can the use of local anaesthetics. Acupuncture treatment can be effective after the surgery once the anaesthetic has worn off, but not during the period of anaesthesia itself. The quibblers do not mention Chinese mysticism as a mechanism, but who would have thought sevoflurane, propofol and remfentanil, could prevent the unblocking of qi?
