About Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the world's oldest complete medical system. Our acupuncture treatments combine nutrition, herbal therapy, and the insertion of tiny needles (acupressure may be chosen instead) to help any imbalances in the body.

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for thousands years. Acupuncture is practiced based on discerning a pattern of imbalance in the body and treating accordingly. This imbalance can be based on physical and/or emotional difficulties. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and harmony in the body. Inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points promotes natural healing and improves functioning.

The needle contacts and regulates an inner force called "Qi" (Vital energy). When there is disease, there is a disharmony with the Qi or life force. This can be due to many things such as a deficiency of Qi, a stagnation of Qi (not moving very well), or an excess of Qi (too much which may go where it is not supposed to go) etc.

Acupuncture helps to bring harmony back to the body by balancing the Qi and restoring your health. As a first step, the acupuncturist examines a system of naturally flowing Qi energies. These energies should function like invisible maintenance crews, whose many tasks keep the body running smoothly since the Qi is behind every physiological and psychological function, from the circulation of the blood to the prevention of emotional hysteria.

If the Qi is no longer flowing well, an ailment will be eminent. The acupuncturist then, as a second step, guides the action of the needle to return the inner workings to as normal a state as possible. Guided needles actually perform more that one hundred and fifty different kinds of healing activities, releasing blockages, restoring strength, boosting the immune system, etc.

What Does Acupuncture Treat?

According to the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health, there are over 200 conditions which can be effectively treated by acupuncture.

These are just a few:

For a more complete list please visit our Conditions & Treatments section.