ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine-based treatment now used quite frequently in the West to treat many different ailments.

How does it work?  You may have heard that it involves putting needles into your skin. And that is true, but it doesn’t hurt.  It’s a minimally invasive method to stimulate nerve-rich areas of the skin surface in order to influence tissues, gland, organs, and various functions of the body.

The Chinese practice of acupuncture is based on the centuries-old system of meridians and a life-giving force which they called ‘qi’ (pronounced ‘chee’.) When your qi is flowing, you have good mental and physical health. When the qi is flowing incorrectly (blocked or deficient) it can result in illness.

This is what they say about acupuncture:

“Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance. Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your bodies natural painkillers”.

What does acupuncture do?

There are countless conditions and symptoms that acupuncture has been said to help. Here are just some of the many claims:

• Allergies

• Asthma

• Shingles

• Anxiety

• Bell’s Palsy

• Depression

• Osteoarthritis

• Chronic pain in the neck, back, knees and head

• Insomnia

• Menstrual cramps and PMS

• Infertility

• Migraines

• Sinus issues

• Sciatic pain

• Digestive issues