Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves the insertion of fine hair-like needles into specific points on the body. These points lie on meridians that channel the body's qi. When qi is not balanced in the body, one begins to show signs of dis-ease. The acupuncture points are the practitioner's means to access the qi and bring it back into balance.

There are 14 main meridians that, in total, have 361 acupuncture points. The meridians themselves have particular characteristics and locations depending on the organ they refer to.When an individual comes for treatment, the acupuncturist will take an in-depth medical history and perform an examination, which includes looking at an individual's tongue and feeling the pulse in three specific locations on both wrists. The acupuncturist will also observe an individual's coloring, eyes, lips, nails, and ask about any unusual markings on the body. The medical history and the acupuncturist's observations will provide a means for the acupuncturist to select points on the body for treatment. Each person's experience with acupuncture will be different than the next and the number of visits an individual will need depends on how long an individual has had a certain condition. The sooner you come for treatment when a symptom manifests, the quicker you will get better.

Some of the benefits from acupuncture include experiencing a sense of deep relaxation, improved sleep, reduction or elimination of pain, improved digestion, more energy and a sense of well-being.

The National Institute of Health has published a consensus statement that indicates that acupuncture is a therapeutic intervention that is widely practiced in the United States. However, acupuncture should never be a substitute for seeking medical attention from a physician.