Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of healing therapy that helps activate the body’s intrinsic healing ability to rebalance & restore itself naturally. Practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine have used this noninvasive treatment method to help millions of people become well and stay well. Acupuncture has been known to successfully treat many acute & chronic illnesses that Western medicine had trouble treating effectively.
What is Qi?
At the core of this ancient medicine is the philosophy that Qi (pronounced “chee”), or vital energy, flows throughout the body. Qi animates the body and protects it from illness, pain and disease. The quality, quantity, and balance of Qi influence a person's health.
How does Qi move?
Qi flows through specific pathways called meridians. There are fourteen main meridians inside the body. The diagram to the left shows the meridian pathways in the body. Each of these is connected to specific organs and glands.
Meridian pathways are like rivers flowing inside the body. Where a river flows, it transports life-giving water that nourishes the land, plants, and people. Similarly, where meridian pathways flow, they bring life-giving Qi that nourishes every body's cell, organ, gland, tissue, and muscle.
What should I expect during my first visit?
During the initial exam, a full health history is taken. Questions are asked regarding health, symptoms, and lifestyle. An appropriate physical exam is conducted, including pulse and tongue diagnosis.
Gathering this information enables the practitioner to effectively diagnose and detect any specific imbalances of Qi that may have contributed to a person's health problems. The practitioner can then create a well-structured treatment plan.
Once the imbalances of Qi are detected, an acupuncturist will place fine, sterile needles at specific acupoints along meridian pathways. This safe and painless insertion of the needles can unblock the obstruction and balance Qi where it has become unbalanced. Once this is done, Qi can freely circulate throughout the body, providing adequate nourishment to cells, organs, glands, tissues and muscles. This can eliminate pain and restore balance and harmony, as well as the body's ability to heal itself—ultimately leading to optimal health and well-being.