Yikes. I've tried accupuncture. It _can_ work wonders for pain. But as a cure-all? Total quackery. Sorry your friend was approached like that in a time of need.
Appreciate your kindness. Unfortunately it’s very hard to understand if a woo-woo provider is waiting to prey on you when you’re at your weakest. I prefer not to support any pseudoscientific treatment modality if I can help it. Stick to disciplines who are subject to a higher degree of effectiveness and scrutiny and you’ll be saving yourself and others. Anything called mecidine and anyone called a doctor must uphold the highest standards.
I have tried it a couple of times. For muscle tightness, there is some science behind why it works (and indeed this worked for me). Did it work better than a very painful massage session? No. But it was a lot less painful!