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Acupuncture

General Overview

Acupuncture has been practiced for at least 5,000 years and is one of the main forms of therapy in traditional chinese medicine. In acupuncture, specific body areas are stimulated by the insertion of fine needles.

Acupuncture restores health by removing energy inbalances and blockages in the body. There is a vital force/energy called qi that flows through the body and between the skin surface and the internal organs. Qi regulates the physical and mention harmony of the body and shows how the forces of yin and yang are balanced. Acupuncture is used to raise or lower the level of yin or yang in specific part of the body and therefore restores the energy balance.

Treatment

In the United States, acupuncture is most widely used to treat pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders. In addition to these disorders, acupuncture is known to treat

• nausea
• chronic low back pain
• neck pain
• headache
• insomnia
• allergies
• asthma
• rhnitis
• tinnitus
• gastro-intestinal disorders
• swollen legs
• arthritis
• anorexia

Acupuncture is a procedure used in Chinese medical practice in which specific body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes. It can also be used to relieve pain or produce regional anesthesia.

Preparation

A licensed acupuncturist may require a medical history and physical examanation. No other specific preparation is required for an acupuncture treatment.