About Acupuncture

The Ancient Art

Oriental Medicine evolved for thousands of years independently of what we in the West refer to as conventional medicine. It is founded on the idea that Qi ("chee"), roughly translated as energy, is the basis of all things. Theories about how this energy behaves developed from careful observation of the natural world. In the body, it was found that Qi moves along pathways connecting the muscles, organs, and the nervous system. Its smooth flow supports the function of our entire being and when this movement is disrupted by trauma, repetitive strain, stress, and the like, symptoms of dysfunction begin to appear. Through the stimulation of specific points on the body, acupuncture restores the proper flow of energy and activates the body's natural healing abilities.

The Modern Science

Acupuncture has been shown to regulate the functioning of the body and increase resistance to disease by enhancing the immune system and stimulating numerous other body functions. Clinical research shows that acupuncture can treat many conditions, but much remains to be understood about how it works. Of course, the same is also true of other medical treatments. In fact, scientists have only recently figured out how aspirin might work. Given that ineffective therapies fall out of use, the continuous practice of acupuncture over thousands of years is a resounding testament to its value.

A 1997 report from the National Institutes of Health states that:

studies have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the Western system of medicine. It is proposed that acupuncture produces its effects by the conduction of electromagnetic signals at a greater-than-normal rate, thus aiding the activity of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and affecting the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are regulated. (See www.nccam.nih.gov/health.)