What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world that was developed in China as early as the Stone Age.  It works by accessing and balancing the body’s Qi, and harmonizing yin and yang, with the insertion of thin needles at acupuncture points.

Acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. The acupuncture points are located along specific pathways or patterns throughout the body, called meridians.

There are twelve (12) main meridians (channels) and they each correspond to a specific organ in the body, with the exception of the Triple Heater (also known as San Jiao). Therefore we have the following Meridians: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, San Jiao, Gall Bladder and Liver.

We also have the Eight Extraordinary Channels which are said to act as reservoirs of energy in relation to the main channels. They represent our basic constitution, our genetic make-up if you will, and are part of our immune system.

Other modalities we may use during an acupuncture treatment are cupping, gua-sha, moxa, Tui-Na and electrical stimulation.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Some Western Scientific  explanations of  how acupuncture works include but are not limited to stimulation of the nervous system, release of endorphins, bioelectricity and through stimulation of connective tissue signal transmission. Studies have been done using functional MRI, that show increased or decreased activity to specific areas of the brain when certain acupuncture points are stimulated.

Sensations

People experience acupuncture differently. Most feel a pinch like sensation or nothing at all as the needles are inserted but the experience may be different for hypersensitive individuals and for those on certain medications.

During a session you may experience what we call a “Qi sensation”, such as heaviness at the insertion site or the whole limb, a feeling of distention in the area, numbness, warmth or the feeling of something (Qi, energy) travelling up and down your whole body or parts of it. You may experience one or more of these sensations at arbitrary times during the treatment and in areas where no needles have been inserted.

The Needles

The needles are metal, filliform and incredibly thin, so they do not cause unnecessary pain. To minimize the risk of infection and transmission of disease, the needles are sterile, individually packed and one-use only disposable and the acupuncture points are cleaned with alcohol.

What to Expect

Expect to be asked in length about your medical history, family medical history, general health, lifestyle and behavior. A list of prescription and over the counter medications, herbs, and supplements is required. The information will enable your practitioner to identify the pattern underlying your specific condition and treat you accordingly.

photo by Valerie Malkin DC

After an Acupuncture Treatment, people may feel relaxed, or energized and with a generalized feeling of euphoria.