Acupuncture has been part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 5000 years. It has been proven to heal the body and promote overall wellness. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. The World Health Organization cites over 40 conditions that acupuncture can treat and recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including:

• Digestive disorders: gastritis and hyperacidity, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea.
• Respiratory disorders: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections.
• Neurological and muscular disorders: headaches, facial tics, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendinitis, low back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis.
• Urinary, menstrual, and hormonal imbalances and reproductive problems.
• Immune System Dysfunction. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue

This ancient healing art is based on the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of qi (also referred to as chi)—the vital life energy present in all living organisms. Qi circulates in the body via 12 major energy pathways called meridians, each linked to specific internal organs and organ systems. Special, micro-thin needles are inserted painlessly just below the skin into these acupoints to stimulate the body’s healing mechanisms. This helps to correct and rebalance the flow of energy and, consequently, to relieve pain and to restore health. 

In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the acupuncture needle as a medical device, acknowledging that the acupuncture needle is a safe and effective medical instrument. 

During the first acupuncture visit, the practitioner (a certified acupuncturist who may also hold additional medical training such as in Herbology or an advanced degree such as Doctor of Chinese Medicine) will take the patient’s medical history and assess the overall state of health via various tests. After a diagnosis is determined, micro-thin needles are placed in any of more than 1,000 locations on the body, generally with no more than 10 to 12 needles per treatment. Acupuncture is basically painless, but sometimes a slight pricking sensation may be felt when needles are inserted. There is also a very slight dull pain that may be felt but this tells you the that the needle has been inserted in the right spot. Some treatments last only a few seconds while others take 45 minutes or longer. In addition to the use of needles, other forms of treatment may be applied to acupoints, such as acupressure in addition to applying heat and suction on the skin, a process called “cupping.”