About Acupuncture

The term "acupuncture" describes a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.

Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture became 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. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.

Meridians & Acupoints

  • Fourteen major energy channels called Meridians course through the human body including the head, arms, hands, legs, feet, torso, and internal organs.

  • A subtle energy called Qi (pronounced Chee) circulates via the meridians to all parts of the body, even the most remote cells.

  • Qi is the vital force, the presence of which separates the living from the dead. Its balanced, unimpeded flow is critical to sound health.

  • Any misdirection, blockage, or other derangement of the amount, flow, or balance of Qi may result in pain, dysfunction, and ill health.

  • With acupuncture needles, or other means, the acupuncturist stimulates certain points (Acupoints) along the course of the meridians. Such stimulation helps restore the normal balance and flow of Qi so organs and bodily systems can work together in harmony as intended. This sets the stage for the body to repair itself and maintain its own health.

About Ear Acupuncture
Ear acupuncture can be a very effective method for relieving acute pains and chronically stiff joints, sometimes these have been cured within minutes. For some problems it can be more effective than body acupuncture. Ear acupuncture is easy and safe for self-treatment and in healing groups. Organ diseases and glandular disturbances may respond less dramatically, but ear needling will always be very helpful as a supportive method with other forms of treatment.

The surface of the ear contains an invisible upside-down representation of a fetus and points on the ear correspond to bodily parts and organs. Stimulating appropriate ear points often effectively treats pain and disease in the corresponding parts or organs.

Several thousand years ago Asian physicians discovered that Qi, the vital force, circulates throughout the body along fourteen major channels. English-speaking acupuncturists usually call the channels “meridians.” Meridians form a highly-complex invisible network transporting and directing Qi to every part of the body including the head, arms, legs, torso, organs and systems. Over centuries of trial and error and meticulous observation the Asian accurately mapped the locations of the meridians and identified hundreds of specific points in the meridians where Qi can be accessed and stimulated when there is an aberration of flow. Those points are commonly called “acupoints."