Acupuncture is the practice of inserting and manipulating fine needles into specific points on the body. Most of these points are found on specific channels or meridians that circulate through the body with Qi. Qi is thought to be the “vital force” or “energy” that is essential to life. Qi flows throughout the body and is balanced when there is health. When there is pain, illness or a medical problem, Qi may be blocked, weakened or is flowing the wrong direction. Acupuncture helps with regulating, strengthening and balancing the Qi in the body.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may treat:
Acupuncture needles are much finer than hypodermic needles which are used to give shots or to draw blood. They may be as fine strand of hair and are also solid, so they do not inject anything into the body. Only single use, factory sterilized needles are used. During as acupuncture treatment, most patients feel minimal discomfort and feel very relaxed. Some patients experience heaviness, tingling or warmth around the insertion site which may continue to be present for a short period after the treatment is completed, however most patients also leave the treatment feeling lighter and clearer. There are also other treatment modalities that may accompany acupuncture. They are as follows:
All of the treatment modalities above are administered with the goal and intention of bringing the body back into balance. In Chinese medicine, any imbalance in the body may result in many different complaints, ranging from minor aches and pains to severe, debilitating illnesses.