The Point: How does Acupuncture Work?

What is Acupuncture?  Well, you can think of your body like a house with electrical wiring running through it.  The wires or channels conduct a current that acupuncturists refer to as “qi.” Qi is the vital force or electricity of the body. A rock has no qi and a squirrel gnawing on the roof of your house has qi.  Sometimes, the flow of electricity (qi) is interrupted because the wires get cut.  When the wires are cut and the flow of electricity is interrupted, there is dysfunction or disease.

What cuts wires in our body?  Good question! The wires get cut by emotional extremes, dietary choices and physical trauma.  A period of extreme emotional turmoil, poor diet and a car accident are some examples.

How does an acupuncturist know which wires have been cut? There is an ancient and sophisticated system of (but not limited to) reading the pulse, tongue diagnostics, physical palpation and questioning he or she uses to determine the cut wires.  Based on the gathered information, the acupuncturist selects a prescription of points along the wires to place hair-thin needles.  These sterile, one-time-use needles are painlessly inserted and left for a period of moments or roughly up to an hour while the needles work to repair the wires.

Your treatment schedule is determined by how quickly you respond to treatment, the length of the ailment and your involvement (adjusting personal habits in your life).  Treatments can be performed daily, weekly or monthly based on your specific needs.  Acupucture is a safe, evidence based, natural method of treatment for any kind of ailment.  It is relaxing, virtually pain-free way to restore your body’s healthy balance. Here are some things to consider when choosing a licensed acupuncturist.

(Featured image by adrigu, via Flickr)