acupuncture
n. uncountablen. a medical treatment from China that involves putting thin needles into specific parts of the body. It is used to help with pain or to make someone feel better.
n. a system of complementary medicine originating in China that involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin at specific points. Used primarily to alleviate pain or treat various physical and mental conditions.
She tried acupuncture to help with her back pain.
Many athletes use acupuncture alongside physical therapy to speed up their recovery from muscle injuries.
While some medical professionals remain skeptical of its theoretical basis in energy flow, clinical studies suggest that acupuncture can effectively stimulate the nervous system to release natural pain-relieving chemicals.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-der. Proto-Italic *akus New Latin acus Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ-der. Proto-Italic *pungō New Latin pungō New Latin pūnctus Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? New Latin -tūra New Latin pūnctūra New Latin acūpūnctūralbor. English acupuncture Learned borrowing from New Latin acūpūnctūra, from acus + pūnctūra. First attested in 1684. By surface analysis, acu- + puncture.
Typically used without an article when referring to the practice in general.