Acupuncture is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves inserting extremely thin needles into the body. These needles are inserted into specially chosen points along fourteen major energy channels, called meridians, in order to stimulate the body’s biological energy, called Qi, into balance.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the essential cause of illness is imbalance in the body’s Qi. By stimulating certain acupoints, the acupuncturist restores balance and allows the body to regain its health.

Each acupoint corresponds to an organ, a limb, or a bodily function. Diagnosis can be made by examining these acupoints – when a certain part of the body is out of balance, tenderness can be detected at the corresponding acupoint.

Acupuncture has a history of over three thousand years. It has successfully been used to treat a wide variety of conditions, injuries, and diseases.

Also used in traditional Chinese medicine are the techniques of moxibustion, acupressure, vacuum cupping, and herbal treatments.

Moxibustion involves the burning of herbs at one end of an acupuncture needle while the other end is inserted into the skin. Acupressure relies on pressure from the fingertips of the practioner instead of needles. Cupping creates vacuums at particular acupoints, which draws circulation and energy. Herbs are usually ingested, like pills or syrups in Western medicine, but can also be applied to the skin.