What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve function. For more than 3,500 years, acupuncture has been providing relief to people around the world. Chinese physicians determined that "Qi" (pronounced chee), an energy, flows through the body on channels known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to Chinese medical theory, illness, pain, and bodily disfunction arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or is blocked.

How ACUPUNCTURE therapy works

Inserting sterilized, stainless-steel needles (that are as fine as a human hair), or other means such as acupressure, blunt probes, laser, microcurrent, electric stimulation, or moxibustion to name a few, into specific points located near or on the surface of the skin have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to treat a wide variety of illnesses.

Research shows that acupuncture causes multiple biochemical responses, mediated by neurons, to structures within nervous system, that affect various physiological systems and promote:

• Release of endorphins, which makes us feel good

• Activation of opioid systems, that reduce pain

• Release neurotransmitters affecting the central nervous system, thus influencing involuntary body functions such as immune reactions, blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature

These responses are ultimately the body healing, naturally; promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.