About Acupuncture
Acupuncture works to maintain the body's equilibrium by focusing on all the body's aspects of wellbeing; physical, mental and emotional.
Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture is one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world. The word 'acupuncture' describes a variety of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by using a variety of techniques.
The acupuncturist inserts ultra fine needles at chosen points along the channels of energy. The aim is to stimulate the body’s own healing response and restore its natural balance.
Today, acupuncture is a natural and increasingly popular form of health care that is being used by people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds.
Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment.
When healthy, an abundant supply of qi (pronounced chee) or "life energy" flows through the body's meridians (a network of invisible channels through the body).
If the flow of qi in the meridians becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of qi, then the body fails to maintain harmony, balance and order, and disease or illness follows.
This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors and becomes evident to TCM practitioners through observable signs of bodily dysfunction.
Acupuncture aims at restoring the normal flow of qi through the individual.
The practitioner may also stimulate the acupuncture points using other methods, including moxibustion (special Chinese herb burned on the needle), cupping , electro-stimulation and massage, in order to re-establish the flow of qi.