Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes.

The earliest written record of acupuncture is the Chinese text Shiji with elaboration of its history in the second century BCE medical text Huangdi Neijing.

Different variations of acupuncture are practised and taught throughout the world. Many studies have been carried out on acupuncture throughout the world and there is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needles, and that further research is needed.