acupuncture

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is based upon Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a system of healing that dates back thousands of years.

TCM is a holistic combination of therapies including acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine, lifestyle, exercise and diet.

TCM theory is based upon the concept that life-force, or energy, known as Qi (pronounced "chee") flowd through channels in the body
called "meridians." Each meridian connects to one specific organ, or group of organs, that governs particular bodily functions. When too little
or too much Qi exists in a meridian or when the Qi is blocked or stagnates, illness results.

Acupuncture treatment consists of inserting thin, sterilized stainless-steel needles at various locations on the body, known as "acu-points"
which function as gateways to unblock or rebalance the flow of Qi and allow the body to heal itself.

What does acupuncture feel like?

Few patients describe acupuncture as painful. You may not feel the needles at all, or you may feel sensations of tingling, warmth, or gentle
pressure that indicate an activation of the Qi. Once the needles are all in place, you rest for some time, often for up to 30 minutes. During
this time, you may feel relaxed and sleepy and may even doze off. At the end of the session, the acupuncturist removes the needles, which
is painless.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of acupuncture treatments you need depends on the complexity of your illness, whether it's a chronic or recent condition, and
your general health. For example, you may need only one treatment for an ankle sprain, whereas for a long-standing, chronic illness you
may need treatments once or twice a week for several months to get results.

What can acupuncture do for me?

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a
treatment plan for many illnesses.

Here is a partial list of common conditions for which acupuncture can be useful.

You can safely combine acupuncture with prescription drugs and other conventional medical treatments. It's important for your physician to
be aware of your acupuncture treatment in order to monitor any improvements that will alter the treatments they are providing.

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