Acupuncture is the healing practice of needle therapy originating between 2000 and 400 B.C. A skilled acupuncturist is able to quickly relieve pain and help to gradually reverse a disease process.

During an acupuncture visit, very thin needles are placed into specific areas of the body known as jie in Chinese Medicine. Jie are neural nodes and they produce a stimulatory effect on the nervous system which causes the midbrain to release natural pain killers. These are known as endorphins and enkephalins and they are basically sent by the brain to the needed corresponding area, side-effect free. These enkephalins and endorphins also improve and modulate the functioning of the immune system.

Acupuncture is a medical practice that embodies the Hippocratic injunction, “primum non nocere,” which states, “above all, do no harm.” Every medical and pharmacological decision always carries the potential for harm, but acupuncture remains among the safest and most effective therapies available today.

The physical effects of acupuncture are vasodilatory, which has a positive effect on the quality of blood flow. Chinese medical theory has always placed a great emphasis on the importance of blood circulation because blood is what transports oxygen (qi) to the entire body. After all, poor blood circulation can even have life-threating consequences if left untreated.

The word qi, depending on its context, refers to one of two things in medicine: the vital essence of air (oxygen) or the functioning of an organ, like the heart, liver or the kidneys.

The word mai, means blood vessel. The qi, circulates through the mai, within the blood (xue), and is transported to the entire body with the help of the heart. The heart qi (heart function) therefore, is very critical for health.

A course of acupuncture will vary depending on the condition being treated. Our treatment plans ensure the best treatment outcomes by preventing the reoccurrence of symptoms. The effects of the treatments accumulate and work on momentum as they reestablish the correct functioning of the body.