Home > Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine > Electroacupuncture

Definition

Electroacupuncture is an acupuncture technique that applies small electrical currents to needles that have been inserted at specific points on the body.

Origins

Acupuncture originated thousands of years ago in China as a healing technique. Electroacupuncture was developed in 1958 in China, when acupuncturists there began experimenting with it as surgical anesthesia, or pain control. After several years of testing during surgery, acupuncturists began applying electroacupuncture in clinical practice for many conditions.

Benefits

Electroacupuncture can be used to treat the same variety of health conditions that regular acupuncture treats, and for conditions that do not respond to conventional acupuncture. It is effectively used as...