Acupuncture

Request for a referral for Acupuncture treatment.

Related keywords
Chinese medicine, needles, complementary medicine, alternative medicine
Who can apply
General Practitioner, Consultant
Referral routes
Criteria Based Access

Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine in which fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes.

It is often seen as a form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) although it is used in many NHS general practices, as well as the majority of pain clinics and hospices in the UK.

Western medical acupuncture is the use of acupuncture after a proper medical diagnosis. It is based on scientific evidence that shows the treatment can stimulate nerves under the skin and in muscle tissue.

This results in the body producing pain-relieving substances, such as endorphins. It is likely these substances are responsible for any beneficial effects seen with this form of acupuncture.