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Summary
Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years. Acupuncture involves stimulating specific points on the body. This is most often done by inserting thin needles through the skin, to cause a change in the physical functions of the body.
Research has shown that acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery and chemotherapy. It can also relieve pain. Researchers don't fully understand how acupuncture works. It might aid the activity of your body's pain-killing chemicals. It also might affect how you release chemicals that regulate blood pressure and flow.
NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Learn More
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6 Things to Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Also in Spanish
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Acupuncture
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Acupuncture (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Acupuncture (Boston Children's Hospital)
- Acupuncture (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
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Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
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Chronic Pain and Complementary Health Approaches
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
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Credentialing, Licensing, and Education
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Find a Practitioner Directory (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)
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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Acupuncture Therapy
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Comparative Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture in Women With...
- Article: Brain-gut-microbiota axis: An effective target of abdominal acupuncture therapy for post-stroke...
- Article: Effect of acupuncture on vascular cognitive impairment (VCI): A randomized controlled...
- Acupuncture -- see more articles
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.