ACUPUNCTURE: ACUPUNCTURE 101

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture, which originated in China, is a way of adjusting the body's "life energy" (Qi) flow. It is a treatment that can relieve both physical and psychological symptoms, and may encourage the client's body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so. It is part of the Chinese medical system that has been used for more than 4,000 years.

The treatment involves insertion of fine needles into carefully selected points along the energetic pathways or meridians of the body (acupuncture literally means "needle piercing"). Along with the usual method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, the practitioner also uses heat, pressure, friction, suction (cupping), or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points. Points are selected on the basis of pulse and tongue diagnosis, observation and questioning.