Prashanthi Gummadi
Abstract
Acupuncture is one of the oldest and best known complementary or alternative therapies available in world. It is originated in china and is the most common treatment used to treat several medical conditions. Acupuncture involves stimulation of body points using needles and variety of techniques. It has been effective in treating Cancer, dental conditions, Infections, Respiratory disorders, Blood disorders, Neurological disorders, urogenital disorders, Psychiatric disorders, Skin diseases. As per the reviews available, during acupuncture application there will be an increase in levels of encephalin, endorphin and serotonin in brain tissue, which in turn results in sedation and recovery of motor functions, due to which they are used in treatment of pain caused due to different medical disorders. In this review I have presented the broad introduction to acupuncture along with its overall applications as an alternative treatment modality and mechanism of action involved in acupuncture.