Acupuncture literally means to puncture with a needle. However, the application of needles is often used in combination with moxibustion-the burning on or over the skin of selected herbs-and may also involve the application of other kinds of stimulation to certain points. In this publication the term “acupuncture” is used in its broad sense to include traditional body needling, moxibustion, electric acupuncture (electro-acupuncture), laser acupuncture (photo-acupuncture), microsystem acupuncture such as ear (auricular), face, hand and scalp acupuncture, and acupressure (the application of pressure at selected sites).