The term acupuncture is taken from the Latin words acus which means needles and pungere meaning to prick. Acupuncture translates to pricking with needles. In the actual practice, very fine needles are inserted in various points of the body in order to relieve pain and to treat some medical conditions. The specific acupuncture points are located along the meridians where the qi, or the vital energy, of the body passes through.

The acupuncture is done to restore the balance of energy or the qi. It is said that the qi has two kinds, the yin and the yang. These two opposing energies have to have a balance and should work together to make the body function well. If the balance is upset, then the body suffers.

Acupuncture is sometimes performed together with the use of heat produced by burning particular herbs in the procedure known as moxibustion. Acupuncture is also related to other alternative medicine practices such as acupressure and reflexology.