What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture originated in China as a medical treatment involving the manipulation of thin, hair-like needles that have been inserted into certain acupuncture points along the human body, and is an integral part of the complete holistic health care system that is Oriental Medicine.

An acupuncturist's perspective on health and sickness relies on the concepts of vital energy, energetic balance, and energetic imbalance. Where Western medical doctors monitor blood flowing through blood vessels and the messages traveling via the nervous system, acupuncturists monitor the distribution and flow of your vital energy within its pathways, known as meridians, and use combinations of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other treatment options to bring balance back to your body.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Inside your body are over one thousand points, known as acupuncture points, that belong to pathways, or meridians, that cover your body. Each point has a specific effect on certain functions of your body and mind. When needles are inserted into an acupuncture point a signal is sent to your brain, spinal cord, organs, and other tissues via certain channels. Each signal is point specific, and creates different effects on both your body and mind when used in combinations with other points. Careful manipulation of these points lead to very effective treatments for a wide range ofilments.

What Does Acupuncture Treat?