Acupuncture

Acupuncture in a nutshell is the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to regulate Qi (energy) thereby enhancing the functioning of the body’s organ systems. Illness appears when the organ systems are out of balance and the flow of Qi is blocked, depleted or irregular.

Acupuncture restores the body to a state of health and well being by adjusting the body’s flow of Qi. Qi is energy and it is everywhere in our body, our food, air and water. At the most basic level we need Qi and we need it to flow smoothly. Some examples of how Qi works if our energy is blocked we may feel pain, if it is depleted we may feel tired, if it isn’t flowing smoothly we may feel irritable or scattered. Acupuncture taps into this flow of energy and regulates it. Other activities such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong even basic exercise such as running affects the flow of energy.

These acu-points are part of the meridian system, which is a network of channels connecting all parts of the body, head to toe, inside to out, muscles, organs and skin. These channels correspond to paired organ systems and can also be related to specific seasons, emotions, herbs and food. Visit TCM philosophy for more details on these relationships.

Acupuncture points cover the whole body, each with a unique action and indication. A set of acupuncture points called a point prescription is created based on an individual’s TCM diagnosis. This set of points is designed to meet each client’s specific needs, whether it is pain management, boosting immune function, health maintenance or stress relief. For the answers to other common questions visit FAQ’S.

Learn more about TCM terminology and diagnosis through my blog posts.