Acupuncture is the practice where small thin needles are introduced and guided into particular points of the body in order to relieve painfulness or for medical uses. Orthodox Chinese medication has developed special acupuncture designates which are positioned on meridians through which chi or the vital free energy of the body flows. Nonetheless, there are no histological or analogical evidence to back the premises around acupuncture points or meridians.

The practice of acupuncture in China can be retraced back to 3000 B.C. as stone acupuncture needles were retrieved in excavations in Mongolia. Although acupuncture is presumed to have originated in China, various forms of it, including Japanese, Tibetan, Korean and Vietnamese acupuncture is exercised all through the world. The modern interest in acupuncture became popular in the United States during 1970s, supposedly after James Reston who underwent emergency appendix operation in China published an article to The New York Times. During the surgical operation, acupuncture treatment was utilized on Mr. Reston to reduce uncomfortableness. Therefore, due to the growing interest in acupuncture The National Acupuncture Association (NAA) was constituted to further the practice of acupuncture by conducting seminars and displays. addition, in 1972, the UCLA Acupuncture Pain Clinic was pioneered by the NAA.

Acupuncture has undergone extensive technological researches and studies although it yet continues a debatable matter among doctors and research workers. Some studies hold exhibited answers that suggest that acupuncture is an effective method to treat certain circumstances although many claim that these results could embody explained through the placebo . The placebo effect is where the patient is rather tricked into believing that actual medical treatment is being carried out and therefore, aiding the therapeutic process by motivating the patient. However, a report issued by the World Health Organization states that after certain supervised clinical trials, it was resolved that acupuncture has proved to be effective for 28 conditions such as, depression, headache, and strokes. Furthermore, it also claims that evidence also exists to suggest that dozens of other conditions may be cared for effectively through acupuncture.

Furthermore, several medical associations such as the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have composed studies involving the effect of accupuncture. The common perception around acupuncture is that it is safe, only if executed by trained individuals using sterilized needles. However, further research in the matter is promoted by doctors as well as research workers.

Acupuncture still continues to be a kind of mystical cast of medical treatment with a common percentage of doubters. Notwithstanding, it might demonstrate to be just the treatment for numerous untreatable medical circumstances.