What is Aupuncture?

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been in practice in China for nearly 3,000 years. It is based on the principle that every human body has 14 major channels, called meridians, flowing through it. The meridians follow various pathways throughout the body. A form of energy called Qi (pronounced "chee") circulates in these meridians. Qi is necessary for all bodily functions. When the flow of Qi in these meridians is disrupted, Qi stagnates, and the body becomes unbalanced. This is when disease happens. Think of it like a freeway system. The freeways represent the meridians and the cars represent the Qi. A traffic jam can cause a lot of problems right? It is the same way in the body. An Acupuncturist works to resolve the blockage of Qi through the use of needles. Acupuncture needles are inserted at certain points along the meridians to restore the smooth flow of Qi and thus bring the body back into balance.