Originating in China about 5,000 years ago, acupuncture is the oldest continuously practiced medical system in the world. Outside of China, in other parts of Asia, Europe and South America Acupuncture has been used for about 200 years. In the U.S acupuncture has been available since 1972 when an aide of President Nixon was successfully treated in China. All told, acupuncture is used by nearly one-third of the world as a primary health care system and many more as an adjunctive therapy.