Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed as part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan, and other Eastern countries. It utilizes practiced medical treatments to manipulate the body’s energy flow, allowing the body to balance and heal itself.

The practice of acupuncture is a holistic medical approach which addresses the health and well-being of the entire body. This medical model is based on natural laws which describe the flow of life energy in nature and the body.

The concept of Qi (pronounced “chee”), or vital energy, is believed to encompass the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical aspects of life. Channels of energy run in regular patterns through the internal organs of the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing throughout the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. When pathways become obstructed, deficient, or excessive, the body is thrown out of balance causing illness. It restores the balance.

Through the insertion of very fine needles, applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points, the acupuncturist seeks to rebalance the flow of Qi. The treatments lead the body to re-establish balance in organ function with positive effects on digestion, absorption, circulation, immunity, and energy production.

The modern scientific explanation is that needling the points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.