Acupuncture is a form of eastern medicine, rooted in China. For approximately 3,000 years, the Chinese observed the body while areas or points were stimulated. They charted over 71 channels throughout the body where Qi (pronounced chee) flows.
In western thought, Qi can be considered as the life force, or what invigorates the body, mind, and spirit. The channels are known as meridians and can be thought of as rivers and oceans. Each major organ in the body has a meridian that flows through it.
Acupuncture is the understanding of how Qi flows in the body and the points or areas of access to the Qi. The art of acupuncture involves the gentle insertion of very fine needles into these points along the meridian to provoke the movement of energy within the body to stimulate natural healing.
Why try acupuncture?
Acupuncture is acknowledged by the World Health Organization as a viable treatment for a host of conditions. Patients often turn to acupuncture as the last resort after trying all Western medicine has to offer them. Acupuncture helps prevent illness by improving the overall functioning of the body’s immune system and organ systems.
Acupuncture is helpful for:
- Treating existing illnesses and injuries
- Preventing both recurrence of illnesses and new illness
- Improving overall health
- Reducing stress and producing an overall sense of wellbeing
Click on the links below for documentation of acupuncture’s effectiveness:
National Institutes of Health: Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, 1997
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncturists consider the body very differently than western medicine. The Chinese believe that health is related to balance in the body, mind, and spirit. When there is balance, harmony exists and Qi flows smoothly through the meridians and nourishes the organs and tissues. If symptoms or illness occur, Qi cannot flow properly.
In other words, symptoms are messages that the body’s innate balance is disrupted. The flow of Qi is stuck, reversed direction, or there is a lack of Qi present. The goal of acupuncture is to restore the balance so that health will return. Frequently patients say they experience many unexpected benefits to treatment with lasting effects.
Participating in treatment
Wellness is more than just returning to a previous level of health but requires participation and an understanding of optimal health. Patients who fully participate in their treatment, examining basics like sleep, diet, how much water you drink, exercise, play, relaxation, and stress management, make the greatest gains. Acupuncture helps you to become a better observer of your body, mind and spirit, enabling you to begin shifting your own symptoms. The practitioner’s use of needles to move the Qi becomes even more powerful when the patient is committed to partnership.
Acupuncture Arts 