acupuncture

American  

[ak-yoo-puhngk-cher, ak-yoo-puhngk-cher, ak-yoo-puhngk-] / ˈæk yʊˌpʌŋk tʃər, ˈæk yʊˌpʌŋk tʃər, ˌæk yʊˈpʌŋk- /

noun

1. a Chinese medical practice or procedure that treats illness or provides local anesthesia by the insertion of needles at specified sites of the body.

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verb (used with object)

acupunctured, acupuncturing

1. to perform acupuncture on.

acupuncture British  

/ ˈækjʊˌpʌŋktʃə /

noun

1. Also called: stylostixis.  the insertion of the tips of needles into the skin at specific points for the purpose of treating various disorders by stimulating nerve impulses. Originally Chinese, this method of treatment is practised in many parts of the world

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acupuncture Scientific  

/ ăk′y-pŭngk′chər /

1. The practice of inserting thin needles into the body at specific points to relieve pain, treat a disease, or anesthetize a body part during surgery. Acupuncture has its origin in traditional Chinese medicine and has been in use for more than 5,000 years.

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acupuncture Cultural  

1. A technique, which originated in China, for curing disease, relieving pain, or bringing about partial anesthesia by inserting needles into the body at specific points.

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Other Word Forms

• acupunctural adjective
• acupuncturist noun

Etymology

Origin of acupuncture

1675–85; < Latin acū with a needle (ablative of acus needle) or acu- (as combining form of acus ) + puncture

Example Sentences

She wears slippers around the house, and wants to try acupuncture next.

From The Wall Street Journal

Other interventions, including acupuncture, mindfulness, and exercise, showed signs of potential benefit.

From Science Daily

Case series of acupuncture reported reductions in brain-fog and joint pain.

From Science Daily

These included animal assisted therapies, acupuncture, herbal medicine, music therapy, probiotics, and Vitamin D supplementation.

From Science Daily

Briand said advanced imaging technologies, including brain scans, were shedding light on how practices such as meditation and acupuncture affect the body.

From Barron's