ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE
The term "acupuncture" describes a family of procedures involving the
stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques,
most commonly through the gentle insertion of very small, delicate
metallic needles. Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other
Asian countries for thousands of years, and is one of the key components of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). There have been many studies on the
potential health benefits of acupuncture for a wide range of medical
conditions by such institutions as the National Institute of Health (NIH).*
In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and
inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents cold, slow, or passive
aspects of the individual, while yang represents hot, excited, or active
aspects. According to TCM, health is achieved by maintaining the body in a
"balanced state" and that disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin
and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of Qi (pronounced
“chee”) along pathways known as meridians. In TCM, Qi is the vital energy
or life force proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental,
and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and
yang. Qi can be unblocked by using acupuncture at certain points on the
body that connect with these meridians.
*See http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture for more information.
The term "acupuncture" describes a family of procedures involving the
stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques,
most commonly through the gentle insertion of very small, delicate
metallic needles. Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other
Asian countries for thousands of years, and is one of the key components of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). There have been many studies on the
potential health benefits of acupuncture for a wide range of medical
conditions by such institutions as the National Institute of Health (NIH).*
In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and
inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents cold, slow, or passive
aspects of the individual, while yang represents hot, excited, or active
aspects. According to TCM, health is achieved by maintaining the body in a
"balanced state" and that disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin
and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of Qi (pronounced
“chee”) along pathways known as meridians. In TCM, Qi is the vital energy
or life force proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental,
and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and
yang. Qi can be unblocked by using acupuncture at certain points on the
body that connect with these meridians.
*See http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture for more information.
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Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine
