What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world.
Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, 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 term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of
anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of
acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other
countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically
involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are
manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. It works on the energy
force (Qi) that runs in channels through the body. When the energy flow is
disrupted due to trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, or other conditions,
pain or illness can result. Acupuncture focuses on correcting these imbalances so
that an even flow of Qi can be restored, and the body brought back into balance,
relieving pain and other symptoms, and strengthening the body.
Acupuncture’s complex system of diagnostic methods aims to treat the person as a
whole, not just isolated symptoms. Diagnosis is based on discerning the body’s
pattern of disharmony and devising an appropriate treatment plan.
