IntroductionAcupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that treats people by inserting and manipulating solid, usually thin, needles into the body. Since its inception, acupuncture has been deeply rooted in the notions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). His general theory is based on the idea that bodily functions are synchronized by the flow of an energy-like entity called qi. Acupuncture seeks to correct inequalities in the flow of qi by stimulating anatomical locations on or under the skin called acupuncture points, most of which are connected by channels known as meridians. Scientific studies have found no bodily or organic correlates of qi, meridians, and acupuncture points, and some modern practitioners prick the body without using an academic framework, instead choosing points because of their sensitivity to pressure (Acupuncture: An Introduction, 2011). FactorsTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is becoming an increasingly accepted form of complementary medicine in the UK. It is estimated that around one million adults in Britain have undergone acupuncture and that one million herbal prescriptions are written each year. Even just ten years ago, TCM was still considered a frontier treatment and it would have been difficult to find a practitioner outside London. Since then, complementary or alternative medicine has flourished, and Chinese medical centers have opened up across the country. “The Registry of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM), the self-regulatory body comprising Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, has seen its membership grow by an average of 30% per year to currently reach approximately 350 members” (Chinese Cures for British Ills, n.d.). There are a number of reasons… halfway through the article… the profession of acupuncture (The Acupuncture Society, n.d.). Conclusion Acupuncture has been around for a long time but is only recently becoming a chosen form of treatment in the UK. There are currently no regulations governing the practice of acupuncture in the UK, but there are professional boards that supervise practitioners. These same bodies are currently pushing for the regulation of complementary medicine as a separate entity. Due to the growing demand for acupuncture in the UK there is also a growing interest in research in this area. Increasing research is also fueling growing interest and demands in acupuncture that are fueling support for pushes for regulation to make the field of acupuncture sanctioned and legitimate. Ultimately the regulation will only increase interest and demand across the country.