Acupuncture is a form of holistic Chinese medicine that has been in practice for more than 2000 years. Today, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the most popular and preferred forms of holistic medical treatments. TCM uses many treatment protocols such as needles, herbal medicines, fire cups, massage – tui na and shiatsu, tai chi and qi gong. Acupuncture treatment is based on qi, or energy, that runs through our bodies, and is used to treat a variety of diseases and symptoms by addressing the body, mind, and spirit.
Acupuncture promotes health and well-being, prevention of illnesses, and treatment of various medical conditions. The body has a system of meridians or channels where energy (qi) and blood flow work together to keep the body in its most healthy state of being. An obstruction of any type in the natural flow of energy and blood leads to an imbalance in the system resulting in a variety of ailments. Acupuncture is used to normalize the functions of the body. Each treatment is individualized to the needs of your body to address the symptoms and their root causes. It provides support for your body to access its innate healing mechanisms making your body stronger from the inside out.
There are over 1,000 acupuncture points on the body and are used to treat the body. “Do the needles hurt?” is a common question. Even though the idea of being needled does not sound like a spa treatment, acupuncture treatments are relatively pain-free. One of the most common uses of acupuncture is to reduce pain in the body. Acupuncture influences the autonomic system to regulate pain, lower inflammation and calm the brain.
Acupuncture works by improving the body’s functions and promoting the natural self-healing process by stimulating specific anatomic sites’ acupuncture points. Treatment leads to multiple biological responses occurring locally or distally, medicated by sensory neurons within the central nervous system. This activates pathways affecting various physiological systems in the periphery of the body as well as the brain. Acupuncture is a natural way to treat the mind and body without medications with potentially harmful side effects.
