穴位療法廣泛的包含針刺、灸法、穴位按壓、雷射針刺、電針刺與微針刺（如：臉、耳、手和頭）。許多調查顯示，在所有補充療法中，穴位療法最受到醫療界的矚目與廣為應用。本篇文章主要從大量基礎研究報告顯示的穴位療法的反應來介紹穴位療法的作用機轉，希望藉此文獻整理讓醫護人員對穴位療法有更清楚的了解。

The term, “Acupuncture,” is used in its broadest senses to refer to needling, moxibustion, acupressure, laser acupuncture, electric acupuncture, and microsystem acupuncture, such as ear, face, hand and scalp acupuncture. Numerous surveys show that, of all the complementary medical systems, acupuncture enjoys the most credibility in the medical community. This article introduces a conceptual framework of the effectiveness of acupuncture from the perspective of responses to acupuncture shown in extensive, basic scientific evidence. The researchers hope, through this review of literature, to enable medical personnel to gain something of an understanding of acupuncture.