Emphysema is a disease that is caused by the breakdown of the walls between the air-sacs in the lungs. This produces large balloon like structures where air movement becomes progressively more difficult as the disease progresses. People are genetically predisposed to suffering this disorder often exacerbated by smoking. Acupuncture is unable to arrest this process but is capable of increasing the ease of respiration during activity and at rest. The ability to perform activities of daily living are enhanced for people with emphysema when undergoing acupuncture.