Electroacupuncture is a combination of acupuncture from oriental medicine and low-frequency (1-1,000 Hz) electrical stimulation, the latter being a type of physical therapy used in western medicine.

Low-frequency stimulation was first proposed in 1816 by Louis Berlioz of France, who speculated that electrical stimulation combined with acupuncture treatment could enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

In 1825, Sarlandiere used this technique to treat gout and neurological diseases. He published a report, from which the term electroacupuncture was used for the first time. Since then, electroacupuncture has been used by many clinical practitioners with noted beneficial results, such as more effective pain management, increased gastrointestinal movement, and successful weight control, etc. As a result, there has been an increase in electroacupuncture usage in clinics worldwide.