You’ll find more study in the West of “dry needling”, a technique directly inspired by acupuncture. Here’s one recent review.

I see an acupuncturist because she’s good at what she does, does believe in germ theory, practices in a sanitary way, and doesn’t claim to cure illnesses. These are the norms for modern licensed acupuncturists. I’m not saying every acupuncturist out there is like this, hokey grifters do exist in alt medicine spaces, and that’s kind of my whole point. It really depends on the practitioner.