Acupuncture - What is it? Today in most western societies, Acupuncture is considered as an "alternative" form of medicine. In reality Acupuncture, along with Herbal edicine, is a practiced medical treatment that can be dated back at least two thousand years.
Chinese medical theory states that every living thing has a natural energy force flowing through it. This energy force is known as Qi (roughly pronounced Chee). It flows in the body in meridians or channels, and assists in maintaining all of life’s essential activities, including the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects. Accordingly, an individual’s health is influenced by the flow of Qi in the body. If the flow of Qi is insufficient, unbalanced or interrupted, the natural energetic balance of the body is disrupted, and illness may occur.
Acupuncture can be described as the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at specific points in order to influence the physiological functioning of the body and restore balance. Traditionally, there are approximately 365 acupuncture points on the body, and each point has one or more energetic functions. The choice of acupuncture point varies from patient to patient and from treatment to treatment and relies upon a comprehensive understanding of both traditional and modern diagnostic techniques.