...has been around for thousands of years.

 

Acupuncture is a proven and effective form of healthcare dating back over 3000yrs with its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It has evolved from continuous observation, testing, and critical thinking and in turn has mapped out the subtle and intricate networks and interrelationships that make up our bodies. As acupuncture proliferated out of China, different regions developed their own forms but the fundamental basis for all acupuncture remains the same; this is the unobstructed, uninhibited flow of energy (Qi) in the body, much like what western medicine refers to as an optimal homeostatic state. Qi can be affected by things such as weather, emotions, trauma, diet, lifestyle, constitution, and over/under exertion. When the body is overwhelmed it cannot keep up to the demands we place on it and so any condition may result. Using careful questioning, observing the tongue, and taking the pulse, a qualified practitioner will be able to determine where and how the acupuncture treatment should be focused for each individual.

 

There are over 360 acupuncture points at pre-determined locations on the body, each with its own therapeutic significance. Very fine needles are inserted at specific points on the body in order to achieve desired results. By inserting these needles the practitioner is in effect creating a nervous, immune, and endocrine response in the body. Approximate time for needle retention is 20 minutes and number of treatments will vary according to conditions for which treatment is being sought as well as by individual response. Other modalities such as auricular acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion may also be used during the course of treatment.