Acupuncture is a holistic medical practice that originated in China over 3,000 years ago. It uses sterile, hair-thin needles to stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
The medicine is based on the understanding that health is achieved through balance. Symptoms like indigestion, headaches, or irritability indicate something is a little out of wack: there’s an imbalance in the body that needs to be addressed.
As your acupuncturist, our job is to determine the specific pattern of imbalance causing your symptoms and get to the root of the issue. When we treat the root we can address a wide range of symptoms and many seemingly "unconnected" issues in a single treatment!
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is translated as “vital energy” or “life force”, and is the most important concept in Chinese Medicine. Qi is the basis of all phenomena in our universe. In our body, Qi is both form and function; refined energy and functional activity. The primary goal of acupuncture is to move and balance qi in the body to restore harmony and promote health.
Qi circulates along a meridian system. The meridians are like a giant web, linking different parts of the body together. Every organ has its own meridian system that traverses a certain area of the body.
The flow of Qi in the meridians concentrate at certain areas- these are the acupuncture points. When everything circulates properly, we don’t feel it, and we are balanced and strong. But when it gets blocked or becomes deficient, it causes pain, dysfunction, depression and disease.
When needled, acupuncture points can regulate the way in which the body functions, improving basic life functions like sleep and digestion, bringing us back to homeostasis.
Acupuncture has been repeatedly proven to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain and increase blood circulation. From a Western medical view, acupuncture points are sites to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. This stimulation boosts the body’s natural pain killers and feel-good chemicals like endorphins.
Acupuncture can correct minor imbalances before they become chronic or pathological. You don’t have to have something that needs to be “fixed” in order to get acupuncture! While acupuncture excels at treating symptoms, it’s an amazing ally for preventative health. If you have no “symptoms” and want to stay that way, you’re an ideal candidate for acupuncture!
Treatments are relaxing, restorative, and nourishing. Even first-time clients with needle fear are surprised by how quickly they feel relaxed! Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and virtually painless. A slight ache or pinch will quickly dissipate. There may be a pulling sensation called “de qi” (“grabbing of the qi”), which many clients like to feel (“it’s working!”).
Today, the benefits of acupuncture are recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which lists the following symptoms, diseases, and conditions to be treated effectively by acupuncture. (Amazingly, Chinese Medicine works on physical, emotional and mental levels, offering a full spectrum of healing.)
Musculo-Skeletal: arthritis, back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness, muscle cramping, sciatica
Digestive: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion
Gynecological: premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, infertility
Emotional: anxiety, depression, insomnia, nervousness, neurosis
Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat: cataracts, poor vision, toothache, gingivitis, tinnitus
Respiratory: asthma, bronchitis, common cold, sinusitis, smoking cessation, tonsillitis
Neurological: headaches, migraines, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, Parkinson’s Disease, post-operative pain, stroke
Miscellaneous: addiction control, athletic performance, blood pressure regulation, chronic fatigue, immune system toning, stress reduction
