Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific acu-points along the skin of the body involving various methods such as penetration by thin needles or the application of heat, pressure, or TDP light.

Traditional acupuncture involved needle insertion, moxibustion and cupping therapy, it is a form of complementary and alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine.

According to TCM, stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of Qi through channels know as meridians.

Acupuncture aims to treat a range of conditions, though is most commonly used for pain relief.

Acupuncture has been the subject of active scientific research, both in regard to its basis and therapeutic effectiveness.

Any evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture is "variable and inconsistent" for all conditions. An overview of high-quality. suggested that acupuncture may alleviate some but not all kinds of pain, while a systematic reviews found little evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for reducing pain.

Although minimally invasive, the puncturing of the skin with acupuncture needles poses problems when designing trials that adequately control for placebo effects.

Acupuncture needles are typically made of stainless steel, making them flexible and preventing them from rusting or breaking. Needles are disposable, and are thrown away after use to prevent contamination.