Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly practiced healing modalities in the world. It spread to neighboring Asian countries and then eventually to Europe. Acupuncture started gaining popularity in the United States in the early 1970's. It is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine that aims to restore health by stimulating specific anatomical points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. Stimulation to these points can be done with a variety of techniques. The most common techniques being: acupressure (applying pressure to the acupuncture point), acupuncture (the insertion of a needle into the acupuncture point) and electrical stimulation (applying electrical impulses to the acupuncture point--with or without needles).

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the life energy or "chi" from the major organs continuously flows along circulatory channels throughout the human body. When a person is healthy, then the energy flow is smooth and in balance. If the flow is dysfunctional or disturbed, then the person will feel pain or develop illness. These imbalances may stem from various causes including but not limited to: injury/trauma, stress, toxins, weak constitution, poor diet, lack of activity, etc.

Specific acupuncture points are stimulated to correct the underlying dysfunction and bring the patient back to health. According to western interpretation, acupuncture is a stimulus directed to certain responsive parts of the nervous system. The treatment stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will change the experience of pain and stress, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones, which will influence the body's internal regulating system. Clinical studies indicate that acupuncture releases endorphins into the body thereby decreasing healing time, relieving pain and bringing the mind, body and emotions back into balance.

When delivered properly by a qualified practitioner, most people describe acupuncture as virtually painless. You may feel a slight pinch with needle insertion while the remainder of the treatment is usually relaxing and painless. It is very common for patients to experience a sense of well-being and relaxation both during and after their acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture has been a viable healing modality used for thousands of years. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are safe, natural and effective ways to treat a wide range of medical conditions, enhance the immune system and support the body's self-regulating and healing systems.