Acupuncture refers to a technique of inserting and manipulating fine filiform needles into specific points on the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic purposes. According to acupuncture theory, these acupuncture points lay along meridians which qi, a kind of vital energy, is said to flow. There is no generally accepted anatomical or histological basis for these concepts, and modern acupuncturists will probably view them in functional terms rather than structural terms. Acupuncture is said to have originated in China and is very much associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Different kinds of acupuncture such as Classical Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Korean acupuncture have been practiced and taught throughout the world for centuries.

While acupuncture has been and will probably continue to be a subject of active scientific research since the late 20th century, its effects are not very well understood, and does remains controversial among researchers and clinicians. The body of evidence remains inconclusive but continues to be active and growing. In 2007 a review by a famous scientist finds that the emerging clinical evidence does seems to imply that acupuncture is effective for some but not for all conditions.

Article Source: Chicago Acupuncture