Well, since they both used "neddles" and since acupuncture treatment is usually different for each person, it is difficult to call one real and the other one "fake"! I guess that the fake one was not using the "traditional" points, but since the overall process in terms of how it really works is still not fully understood, you cannot immediately suggest that it is a placebo effect!!!

In other words, if someone is stiking a neddle in someone's body and telling them that they are doing "acupuncture" and if that someone feels the neddle entering the body, I would strongly suggest that they will immediately think/believe/feel that they are being treated by acupuncture...

So, this is only showing us more evidence of the power that the mind has one any specific treatment, specially if one can feel immediate action/reaction from a needle!!!

-wirelessguru1