What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of almost hair-thin needles into specific points on the body’s surface. Needles are sterile and single use only. Unlike hypodermic needles, acupuncture needles are solid. Acupuncture typically doesn’t hurt. You may, however, experience a variety of sensations with acupuncture. These sensations can include: tingling, warmth, a mild pressure and a feeling like water flowing through you. Many people feel nothing. Most people experience that acupuncture as very relaxing.
How can acupuncture help?
Most health problems are caused by imbalances in the body. The sources of these imbalances are numerous: injuries, stress, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, over-exertion etc. Rather than just treating symptoms, acupuncture and herbs work to fix the imbalances at their core level. When the imbalance is corrected, the body can heal itself.
Acupuncture works great for all kinds of pain, and it is also helpful for a variety of internal problems, such as digestive issues, women’s health, lung ailments and emotional stress, among others.
One interesting side effect of acupuncture treatments is that people will often notice improvements in other areas of their lives as well. Clients frequently remark that they have more energy, handle stress more easily, sleep better and digest more efficiently. They also become more aware of the warning signals that arise before they feel bad, which allows them to deal with the problem before it gets worse.
The philosophy behind acupuncture
Acupuncture needles are inserted into points that are found along “energetic” channels that traverse the body. The Chinese describe these channels as similar to waterways. Some of the waterways are larger, like oceans or lakes; others are more like rivers, streams, or creeks. Earth’s waterways can be damaged by damming, sediment, litter, flooding, pesticides etc, and this in turn affects the balance of nature in and around that waterway. Similarly, our energetic “waterways” are compromised by injuries, stress, poor diet and many other factors. Along with other Chinese medical healing practices, inserting needles into points along these “waterways” or channels can help restore a proper flow of energy within the channels, help clear blockages, relieve pain, and improve the overall health of the person being treated.
More about energy or qi
The Chinese call the energy that runs through the channels (described above) qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi serves many functions in the human body. It protects from illness, provides warmth, is the source of all movement, it provides nourishment through the food we eat and the air we breathe, and it is the energy that regulates our organs and bodily systems among other things. Qi can roughly be translated as the universal life energy that is within, around and the matrix of everything. When qi is abundant and flowing smoothly, a person enjoys robust health. However, qi can become deficient or stagnant, which leads to health problems such as pain, fatigue, illness, mental/emotional issues, etc. Acupuncture, herbal medicine and other healing practices from Chinese Medicine can help reestablish a balanced flow of qi in the body, facilitating health and vitality of body, mind and spirit.
