The insertion of needles into acupuncture points is the most common method of acupuncture therapy. The quick insertion of fine hair-like needles using plastic guide-tubes, enables modern acupuncture to be done painlessly.

Exceptions to this are the insertion of needles in the fingers and toes, and over bony locations, all of which can be uncomfortable. In addition to the use of needles, other common methods of stimulating acupuncture points include cupping (application of small cups to acupuncture points, which are held in place by a partial vacuum created by prior heating), moxibustion (the application of smouldering moxa on needles or directly on skin interspersed by a sliver of ginger), massage and acupressure (where finger-pressure is applied to acupuncture points).

Another relatively new technique involves the tapping of bony prominences with a needle, a technique also known as periosteal tapping. This process produces a response almost immediately, but its use is limited only to points in the vicinity of superficial bones. Currently several needle-free modalities of therapy are in use, and these include low-energy lasers, magnets, ultrasound devices, electrical pulsing devises, and light-emitting diodes.