What Is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine which involves insertion of very fine, hair-thin needles gently in to your skin at specific points on your body. Sometimes pressure, heat, suction or mild electrical current is used along with needles. Acupuncture is used mainly to treat pain, however Oriental Medicine Doctors have expanded the scope of acupuncture to include most ailments and illnesses. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the theory that the body has energy, called qi (pronounced “chee”), that flows through your body along pathways called meridians. Illness occurs when something unbalances your qi. Acupuncture is used to influence or unblock qi and help your body to allow the qi to flow naturally back into balance. Western doctors generally explain acupuncture as insertion of the needles at certain points to help stimulate your nerves and nervous system, as well as muscles and connective tissue, and that specific stimulation helps to boost your body’s natural painkillers, as well as increase blood flow.