> Home > Acupuncture What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is a therapeutic method used to encourage natural healing, reduce or relieve pain and improve functioning in affected areas of the body. Acupuncture is a safe and effectively used as an alternative to medications or surgery. Relief is often obtained when traditional medical therapy has failed. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles through the skin and tissues at the specific points on the body. There is no injection of any substances; treatment itself causes minimal discomfort. Ancient and Modern usages Acupuncture as developed in China dates back at least two thousands years ago as a system of diagnosing and treating pain and diseases. Although it was proven successful for hundreds of years without the benefits of modern medical knowledge, it is only in recent years that the scientific and medical communities of China, Europe and North America have began to study acupuncture to understand and explain its effectiveness. Modern technology has allowed variations in acupuncture treatment. Electro-acupuncture involves stimulation of inserted needles with gentle electrical impulses. Even low laser may also be used instead of needles to stimulate appropriate points.