Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles through a person's skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. It is commonly used to treat pain, though it's also used for a wide range of other ailments.

The practice is based on the belief that this process helps balance the flow of energy or life force — known as qi or chi (CHEE) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body.

By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance. This is why acupuncture is sometimes used for pain relief and for a wide range of other health conditions.