Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of needles in the body. Its supporters claim that it relieves pain, treats infertility, treats disease, prevents disease, or promotes general health. Accupuncture is also used to treat pain, neurological problems and diseases, depression, thus giving individuals a sense of overall wellbeing. It is sought out for as an alternative treatment to modern western medical treatments. Chinese Acupuncture practitioners incorporate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the use of needles, however modern Acupuncture diverges from this by using needles only.
The term “acupuncture” is sometimes used to refer to insertion of needles at points other than traditional ones, or to applying an electric current to needles in acupuncture points. Different variations of acupuncture are practiced and taught throughout the world.