Acupuncture describes a family of procedures that stimulate different points on the body using a variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique most often studied scientifically is placing sterile, thin, solid, metallic needles in the skin and manipulating them. Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional chinese medicine and for some people, can be a major source of pain relief.Maria Broderick, EdD, Lic.Ac shares the many benefits of acupuncture and what you can expect during your first visit.