Acupuncture originated from China and has been practiced there for thousands of years. It was during the second half of the twentieth century it began to spread rapidly in Western Europe and North America.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient's skin at specific points on the body - the needles are inserted to various depths. According to traditional Chinese medical theory, acupuncture points are located on meridians through which Qi vital energy runs. According to WHO (World Health Organization) acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, while evidence indicates it may have an effective therapeutic value for many more.