Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture, specifically, has been documented as having been used for the treating and prevention of illness for over 20 centuries.

In TCM it is an essential tool used to remedy ailment of pain or illness. Through the use of fine, hair-like, sterilized and disposable needles a practitioner determines specific point along the pathways of the body. He then safely and painlessly inserts the needles which serve to unblock the “stuck” flow of Qi. In TCM, there are over 2,000 acupoint on the human body. Each point serves one of 14 meridian pathways which travel through the body and serve a specific organ system. By “tapping” into these points, the practitioner is able to energize the stagnant flow of energy, or discharge the overly active area, which is causing you discomfort. Let’s look at stress for example.

In simply terms, think of your body as an electrical appliance, say a lamp. The lamp has all of the necessary components to work, and the source of external energy is that of an electrical outlet. However, if the cord which plugs into the wall outlet has a cut or is frayed, the energy will not flow throughout the wiring of the lamp and thus becomes stagnated and ceases to function properly. Acupuncture works along the same premise. It’s more complex than this example, but this should give you a diagram of what your practitioner is trying to accomplish. His mission is to bring the body to a point of balance so all organs and energy paths can function harmoniously.

Acupuncture techniques vary, but the most common forms may consist of any of the following techniques: Moxabustion (heat), Gua Sha (scraping), Cupping (suction), Auricular Therapy (ear acupuncture), electrical or laser stimulation, or manual manipulation of the points. Each technique can often produced a different sensation for the patient, however in most cases the patient will only experience a sense of tingling or warmth.