Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the main branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The technique involves the insertion of needles into "acupuncture points" on the body by trained practitioners. According to acupunctural teachings this will restore health and well-being, and is particularly good at treating pain. The definition and characterization of these points is standardized by the World Health Organization. Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese medicine. Other types of acupuncture (Japanese, Korean, and classical Chinese acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world. Scientists have conducted reviews of existing clinical trials according to the protocols of evidence-based medicine; some have found efficacy for headache, low back pain and nausea, but for most conditions have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective.
Related Stories
1
2
Health & Medicine News
June 20, 2026
June 20, 2026 Scientists have discovered that a gene normally considered a DNA-protecting "good guy" can become dangerous when cells make too much of it. The gene, EXO1, acts like molecular scissors that help repair DNA, but when overproduced it starts cutting ...
June 20, 2026 The obesity treatment landscape is changing fast, with GLP-1 drugs opening the door to more effective care than ever before. Experts now envision a future where medications, minimally invasive ...
June 19, 2026 Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables may not be enough if you're missing foods rich in flavanols, a group of compounds linked to better heart health. Researchers found that choices like ...
June 19, 2026 A newly identified molecule called OLE helped restore the brain’s immune cells to a more protective state in Alzheimer’s models. The treatment reduced toxic plaque buildup and improved memory, raising hopes for a new therapeutic ...
June 19, 2026 A new biomaterial made from jackfruit latex, pomegranate peel, and simvastatin could transform the treatment of severe gum disease. Early tests suggest it not only combats infection and inflammation but may also help rebuild lost bone and tissue ...
June 18, 2026 Scientists may have uncovered a hidden trigger behind Alzheimer’s disease. Instead of plaques being the root cause, amyloid beta appears to interfere with tau, a protein that helps keep neurons functioning properly. This disruption could set off ...
June 18, 2026 Plague was already a deadly killer 5,500 years ago, long before cities, farming, or the rat-infested conditions usually linked to historic outbreaks. By analyzing ancient DNA from hunter-gatherer cemeteries in Siberia, researchers discovered early ...
June 18, 2026 Scientists at Mayo Clinic have uncovered a surprising new way the kidneys conserve water, revealing a hidden backup system that works independently of the hormone long believed to control the process. The discovery emerged when researchers testing ...
June 18, 2026 A major study of more than 112,000 people found that eating foods containing common preservatives may be linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure and heart-related diseases. Researchers tracked ...
June 17, 2026 Scientists have taken a surprising step toward unlocking regeneration in mammals, showing that the ability to rebuild complex body parts may not be lost after all—it may simply be switched off. Using a two-stage treatment, researchers redirected ...
June 17, 2026 A Rutgers study suggests GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy may weaken the link between impulsive tendencies and violent behavior. The surprising finding hints that these medications could affect how people act on impulses, though researchers ...
June 17, 2026 Exposure to a common plastic chemical before and shortly after birth may have lasting effects on behavior. Researchers found that male rats exposed early in life to DEHP—a plasticizer used in products ranging from medical devices to toys—showed ...
Latest Headlines
updated 12:56 pm ET
June 17, 2026 A small clinical trial suggests that probiotics may offer a surprising mental health boost for older adults with depression. Seniors who took a daily probiotic alongside their regular antidepressant ...
June 17, 2026 A minimally invasive treatment that blocks inflammation-driving blood vessels in the knee provided significant pain relief and improved function for osteoarthritis patients, with benefits lasting at ...
June 17, 2026 Scientists are beginning to explore a hidden world of thousands of food chemicals that go far beyond the nutrients listed on nutrition labels. This “nutritional dark matter” may hold the key to ...
June 16, 2026 Depression appears to change what children notice in the faces around them, but the effect depends on family history. Kids with a higher inherited risk became more focused on sadness, while ...
June 16, 2026 Diabetes and dementia appear to be closely intertwined, with each condition potentially influencing the other. Problems with insulin and glucose can affect the brain’s energy supply, increase ...
June 16, 2026 A new study found that chronic wasting disease can sometimes spread silently, with infectious prions present even in animals that show no symptoms. ...
June 16, 2026 Many people prescribed GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes (such as Victoza, Ozempic, or tirzepatide) stop taking them, but a surprising number later return to treatment. Researchers found that newer ...
June 16, 2026 A large real-world study suggests semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) may offer an unexpected bonus for people with type 2 diabetes: stronger ...
June 16, 2026 Humans evolved to pay close attention to danger, but today that instinct is being overwhelmed by an endless supply of bad news from around the world. Researchers say the answer isn’t to stop ...
June 16, 2026 A copper-based compound restored the brain’s ability to clear toxic Alzheimer’s proteins, dramatically reducing amyloid buildup and improving memory in laboratory experiments. The findings point ...