Read on to find out the answers to these common questions:

What is acupuncture?
How does acupuncture work?
What can acupuncture treat?
What can I expect?
Preparing for your treatment
Did you know... Some interesting facts about this ancient practice.
The Licensed Acupuncturist

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an essential part of Chinese medicine that also includes medicinal herbs, tui-na massage, diet and exercise. Its origin dates back at least five thousand years and has an unbroken, written record of medical commentary that dates back over two thousand years. Technically, acupuncture is the insertion of ultra thin, pre-sterilized needles below the skin into specific areas of the body for the purpose of rebalancing the body's energies.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The ancient Chinese physicians discovered that the body's vital energies (chi) flowed in distinct pathways called meridians or channels, and

the purpose of chi was to nourish, regulate and protect the bodies organs, blood vessels, tissues, fluids, muscles, tendons and bones, nervous, immune and hormonal systems;
points along the meridians had different therapeutic effects;
activation of those points could achieve a desired result;
the unimpeded, free flowing of the chi was the key to good health because when the chi was blocked, disease was sure to follow.

The blockage of chi was therefore understood to be the cause of disease. The blocked chi creates an imbalance in the body which prevents it from nourishing, regulating and protecting its internal environment. The purpose of the acupuncture treatment is to remove the obstruction that blocks the chi so that the body can restore itself to its natural state of health.

These insights led the ancient physicians to seek out and use the energetic, healing properties found in medicinal plants, food, exercises and breathing meditations. Armed with this wide range of safe, natural, energy based protocols, they could now successfully treat the maladies that plagued their citizens.

Pain relief: releases endorphins to control pain.
Sedating: induces sleep by decreasing delta and theta wave activity during treatment.
Homeostatic: brings the internal environment towards the state of normalcy.
Immunity enhancing: increases resistance to disease.
Psychological: calms and tranquilizes the brain.
Motor: speeds up recovery from paralysis and other injuries.

What can acupuncture treat?

Gastrointestinal disorders: food allergies, peptic ulcer, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gastrointestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis.
Urogenital disorders: stress incontinence, urinary tract infections and sexual dysfunction.
Gynecological disorders: irregular, heavy or painful menstruation, infertility in women and men, menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Respiratory disorders: emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies, bronchitis and sore throat.
Neuro-muscular disorders: arthritis, migraine headaches, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, tennis elbow, sports injuries, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel.
Circulatory disorders: hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anemia.
Emotional and psychological disorders: including depression, anxiety and stress.
Addictions: alcohol, nicotine and drugs.
Supportive therapy: for other chronic and painful debilitating disorders.

What can I expect?

Today's acupuncture needles are solid stainless steel, ultra fine and flexible. They are pre-sterilized and disposable. Unlike western hypodermic needles, which are painful upon insertion because they are hollow and thick and meant to put fluid in or take fluid out of the body, the acupuncture needle is virtually painless upon insertion. During the treatment the patient may feel a deep sense of relaxation and may even fall asleep. Under the hands of a skilled practitioner, acupuncture is safe, effective and affordable.

Preparing for your treatment