We have found errors and mistakes in acupuncture studies in the Western countries. We now focus on analysis and discussion of improper ways of the thought, design, and performance of acupuncture studies by researchers in Western countries. We feel that, generally speaking, these researchers, due to their cultural mindset, have diverted the direction of research to understanding acupuncture as a placebo, rather than in the improvement of acupuncture performance. This has made already complex acupuncture research even more complex, causing confusion. Researchers should seek a broader view of the research area, not only expansion of his or her own research area.