THE HISTORY AND THE SCIENCE

Thousands of years ago, the Chinese developed a system that promoted the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Practitioners looked at patterns of imbalance in the body and discovered how to trigger the release of endorphins and other natural painkillers to increase circulation, improve immunity and stimulate the nervous system. As with all Oriental medicine, acupuncture takes a natural, whole-body approach to healing. It treats the source of an illness, not only the symptoms.

Modern research confirms the existence of acupuncture points, and indicates that acupuncture may enable signals in the body to be relayed at a faster rate than normal. Acupuncture has been shown to help the body release endorphins and increase blood flow and tissue repair. In addition, it can reduce inflammation and calm the mind. As a result, acupuncture can supplement and maximize the effectiveness of many standard Western medicine treatments and reduce the side effects of medication.

THE SENSATION

Extremely thin needles about the size of a thick human hair are gently inserted into several layers of skin at specific points. The treatment time varies depending on the individual and what’s being treated, but the needles typically remain in place for about 20 minutes. First-time acupuncture patients have reported a pleasant sensation at the points of insertion. Some report the sensation as energizing, some become so relaxed they fall asleep. Many people report that they feel both physically and emotionally better after acupuncture treatments.