Acupuncture
The term “acupuncture” describes a family of procedures involving the stimulation of points on the body using a variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine.
Although millions of Americans use acupuncture each year, often for chronic pain, there has been considerable controversy surrounding its value as a therapy and whether it is anything more than placebo. Research exploring a number of possible mechanisms for acupuncture’s pain-relieving effects is ongoing.
For Consumers
General Information
Research Spotlights
Ongoing Medical Studies
- Find Active Medical Research Studies on Acupuncture (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Multimedia
For Health Professionals
NCCAM Clinical Digest
Continuing Education (CME, CEU)
Scientific Literature
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Systematic Reviews/Reviews/Meta-analysis (PubMed®)
- Randomized Controlled Trials (PubMed®)