Knowra Acupuncture Acupuncture Acupuncture is a therapeutic practice that stimulates specific points on the body, usually by inserting thin needles through the skin. Its traditional theories describe channels and vital energy, while clinical research evaluates its effects through biomedical methods.
Acupuncture point : A location on the body selected for stimulation during acupuncture. Points guide where needles are placed, though their traditional descriptions do not map neatly onto anatomy.
Chronic pain : Pain that persists or recurs over an extended period, often beyond normal tissue healing. This broad clinical category contains several conditions for which acupuncture has been studied.
Sham acupuncture : A control procedure designed to resemble acupuncture without delivering its intended treatment. Trials use sham procedures to distinguish specific needling effects from expectation and treatment context.
Huangdi Neijing : An influential classical Chinese medical text compiled over centuries, traditionally presented as a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and his ministers. Its discussions of channels and needling helped shape later acupuncture theory.
Evidence-based medicine : Clinical decision-making that integrates research evidence, professional expertise, and patient circumstances. Its methods frame how acupuncture benefits, harms, and uncertainties are assessed in healthcare.
Deqi : A set of sensations, such as aching or heaviness, traditionally associated with effective acupuncture stimulation. Practitioners often use these sensations to judge whether needle stimulation has reached its intended intensity.
Low back pain : Pain or discomfort located in the lower part of the back. Guidelines and trials have evaluated acupuncture as one option for managing this common complaint.
Dry needling : A technique that inserts solid needles into tissue, commonly targeting myofascial trigger points. It also uses needles but generally relies on musculoskeletal assessment rather than traditional acupuncture theory.
Mawangdui medical texts : Medical manuscripts found in tombs at Mawangdui, sealed in 168 BCE, including early descriptions of bodily pathways. Their pathway accounts predate some canonical acupuncture systems and illuminate the practice's early development.
Randomized controlled trial : A study that assigns participants randomly to interventions to compare their outcomes. Trials of acupuncture face distinctive challenges in blinding practitioners and choosing credible controls.
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