ACUPUNCTURE

Qi. This is what Chinese Medicine calls the life force that courses through our veins, that animates us, that exists in all living things.
It is invisible, much like electricity:  you cannot see it, but can see and feel what it does. As humans we observe it in our pulse,
our breath, our movements, our temperature and more.

Quite simply, Qi is what makes you you.

When we are healthy, Qi flows freely, unobstructed, throughout the body.  If Qi becomes blocked or stagnant, we can become ill.   Acupuncture is the insertion of tiny needles into specific points on body which work to unblock Qi, so healing can take place.

Chinese Medicine believes that within each of us there are channels, called meridians, through which energy (Qi) flows. These meridians are similar to the messenger pathways of our nervous and circulatory systems, and act as conduits for energetic passage.  The meridians are interconnected, and contribute to our overall health.  If one or more of these meridians becomes blocked, the flow of energy is disrupted and illness can occur.  An acupuncturist determines which of these meridians is blocked and then inserts needles into these areas to regulate the flow of Qi and promote a state of health.

DOES IT HURT?

Acupuncture needles are very different than needles used in Western Medicine, which are used to inject medicine or to withdraw fluids from the body. Western needles are hollow and the tip is beveled and sharpened so that it can cut the skin upon entry. Compared to acupuncture needles, Western needles are huge because the diameter needs to be large enough to transfer the thick fluids of the body.  Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and solid.  You can put many acupuncture needles inside the hole of a Western needle.

Acupuncture needles are not designed to cut the skin, but rather to displace the skin and stimulate areas below the surface. In other words, they don’t hurt like Western needles do.  These very fine needles are only a few thousands to several thousands of an inch in diameter.  When a needle is inserted into the skin it is barely perceptible.  Many patients feel nothing at all, while others liken it to a mosquito bite.

An acupuncture session can last anywhere from 20-40 minutes.  Initially it may feel like faint electricity running through the body–this is thought to be the sensation of Qi moving along the meridians.   Soon after the patient might feel deeply relaxed, or enter a meditative state.  Some patients fall asleep.  Others might feel invigorated–it all depends on the patient and the nature of the imbalance.

Acupuncture is endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization as both safe and effective.  Acupuncturists in the State of California are recognized as primary care physicians, and must be licensed every two years.  By law, they are required to use only brand new, sterile single-use needles in their practice.

Acupuncture is inexpensive, relatively painless, and best of all, it works.