Acupuncture is an unconventional form of medicine originating from Ancient China. This practice involves the insertion of needles into the skin at specific points on the body to achieve therapeutic effect. Acupuncture encourages natural healing, relieves pain, improves bodily functioning and energy and prevents illnesses. Though acupuncture is often used for pain relief, it is also helpful as supportive treatment to other medical methods.
According to traditional Chinese explanations, channels of energy known as meridians exist within the body. Blockage in the regular flow of energy is defined as illness or pain. In order to restore health, doctors place needle on acupunctural points to correct the imbalance and restrictions in the meridians.
The modern scientific explanation states that needling acupunctural points on the body stimulates the release of chemicals from the nervous system to other parts of the body. The chemicals may help to ease pain or trigger other chemicals that may activate one’s internal regulating system.
Acupuncture can be used to treat muscular, neurological, digestive and respiratory disorders as well as urinary, menstrual and reproductive problems. Other related forms of acupuncture include the use of heat (moxibustion) or electrical stimulation (electro-acupuncture) at acupunctural points and many others.