Acupuncture is a 5,000-year-old Chinese medical technique in which practitioners insert fine needles into specific anatomic points to relieve pain and return the body to optimal function. The technique is based on the theory that all living organisms have an energy called “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) flowing through them along certain pathways. Pain, injury and other negative stimuli block the natural flow of Qi and cause a variety of disorders. Stimulating acupuncture points can restore Qi’s proper flow and allow the body to heal itself.
Western scientists have verified that the stimulation of acupuncture points leads to physiological reactions such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure, brain activity, blood chemistry, endocrine function, intestinal activity and immune-system function. Research also shows that acupuncture effectively treats medical conditions such as back, neck and joint pain, headaches, asthma, allergies, arthritis, menstrual and infertility problems, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and sciatica.
Acupuncture needles are a far distant cousin to those that patients encounter in traditional doctor’s offices. The point is so fine that acupuncture patients often feel little or no sensation upon insertion. During treatments some patients experience a subtle warmth, pressure or tingling, while others feel nothing unusual.