Acupuncture Glossary: Key Terms in Plain Language

How to use this glossary

Core terms

• Acupuncture. A technique in which practitioners insert fine needles into the skin to treat health problems. [1] MedlinePlus says it has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years. [2]
• Acupoint (acupuncture point). A specific point on the body that is stimulated, usually by inserting thin needles through the skin. [3] See how points are named, numbered and located.
• Meridian (channel). In the traditional framework, meridians are believed to be channels connecting the surface of the body to internal organs. [4] A systematic review concluded that the evidence does not conclusively support the claim that points or meridians are electrically distinguishable. [5] Read more in Meridians and Channels in Acupuncture.
• Qi. Often translated as "vital energy". A review of deqi describes acupuncture in traditional theory as activating the qi and blood of meridians and collaterals and regulating the function of internal organs. [6] This is a traditional concept, not a measured substance. See Qi and Acupuncture.
• De qi. The needling sensation the patient may feel as heaviness, numbness or tingling. [7] The word literally means "the arrival of vital energy". [6] A systematic review found the evidence too weak to say whether feeling de qi predicts a better clinical result. [8]

Types of acupuncture and related methods

• Electroacupuncture. Needles stimulated with small electrical currents instead of by hand. [1] See Electroacupuncture.
• Auricular acupuncture. Stimulation of specific areas of the ear. [1] The full guide is Auricular Acupuncture and Battlefield Acupuncture.
• Battlefield acupuncture. An easily learned form of auricular acupuncture that the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs have used to treat pain. [1]
• Acupressure. Using fingers or mechanical devices to apply pressure on acupuncture points; no needle is inserted. [7] See Acupressure.
• Moxibustion. An herb is burned above the skin or on an acupuncture point to warm it. [7]
• Cupping. A vacuum or negative pressure is created on the surface of the skin. [7]
• Dry needling. Needling of myofascial trigger points, as opposed to acupoints. The two therapies differ in application and proposed rationale but share invasive soft-tissue needling. [9] The canonical comparison is Acupuncture vs Dry Needling.
• Myofascial pain and trigger points. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common form of pain from muscles and their related connective tissue. [1]

Research words

• Sham acupuncture. A fake procedure used as a comparison, for example a device that pokes the skin but does not penetrate it. [1] In many studies the benefit of acupuncture has been greater against no treatment than against sham, which is why the comparison matters. [1] See Sham Acupuncture and Placebo Controls.
• Placebo effect. A beneficial outcome resulting from a person's anticipation that an intervention will help. [10]
• Nonspecific effects. Effects due to incidental parts of a treatment, such as belief in the treatment or the relationship with the practitioner. [1]
• Evidence labels used on this site. Established, promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence, no good evidence of benefit, evidence of harm. These are our wording for how strong the sources are, not a medical verdict.

Training and rules

• License and certification. In the United States, government agencies grant and monitor licenses, while professional organizations certify practitioners. [12] The credentials required vary widely from state to state. [12] See How to Choose an Acupuncturist.