Ancient Chinese Acupuncture

Ancient Chinese Acupuncture is the practice of inserting long, thin needles into acupuncture body points to release energy within the body, relieving pain, reducing stress, and aiding in healing.



Chinese acupuncture dates back to the stone age, when it was practiced with sharpened stones.

In the modern era, acupuncture is practiced in Western cultures as well as in Asia. It was introduced to the US after President Richard Nixon's ground-breaking trip to China in 1972.

Acupuncturists today use sterilized disposable needles that are long, thin and solid - not hollow like hypodermic needles, which makes them much less painful to insert. These needles are inserted into the skin at various acupuncture body points associated with the affected area.

The body is believed to contain 12 or more "meridians" which guide the flow of qi, or energy, throughout the body. Pain occurs when the qi is blocked or unbalanced, and inserting needles in the areas where the blockage occurs will relieve the pain.

The body points used for treatment are seldom directly affiliated with the area in pain. For example, the correlation between acupuncture and migraines is not in the head; the webbed area between the thumb and forefinger regulate the head and face. A migraine headache would be treated by inserting needles into the webbed area of the hand, not directly into the head.

Acupuncture side effects are relatively rare and minor, and are far outweighed by the benefits. Bruising may occur at the insertion site, and sometimes dizziness, fainting or nausea may be experienced during treatment. Deep needling near major organs could damage the organs if performed incorrectly.

On the other hand, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of ailments, from pain to digestive concerns. Many people also use acupuncture for weight loss.

The cost of acupuncture is also relatively low. It's well worth trying!

Make sure your acupuncturist is a graduate of an accredited school of acupuncture in the US.

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