Acupuncture is part of a system of healing known as Oriental Medicine or Chinese Medicine. The practice of Oriental Medicine consists of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle modification, acupressure and Chinese massage.  

Acupuncture treatments could be helpful to you. Practiced for thousands of years in China and Japan, acupuncture is directed toward wellness, vitality, balance, longevity, and the ability to live fully with the pain and the joy of life. Most people expect their wellness to decline over the year,  as they age. They often anticipate experiencing similar health concerns evident in their families. While this may happen for some, acupuncture patients have had their predicted futures of ill health changed to wellness.   

It is likely that more people have been treated by acupuncture throughout history than by any other formalized system of medicine. Chinese Medicine is practiced and based on natural laws describing the movement of life in nature and the body.  This life force, called Qi, runs through the body in channels similar to rivers that course through the earth. When the Qi in the body is full and moving properly, health is promoted. When the Qi is moving improperly, illness can begin.  Even everyday events causing stress, like disappointments, can disrupt the harmonious movement of Qi. Compounded over time, these events can lead to symptoms later.  Intervention now treats the underlying imbalances rather than only the most obvious symptoms. Treatment now may prevent symptoms later. 

Optimal health can be attained by recognizing the extent of physical and psychological conditions, so that habits and lifestyles can be changed, as needed. The goal is to restore to the person an overall feeling of balance which results in an improved quality of life.   

Even though Oriental Medicine and Western Medicine are different, they complement each other. The purpose of acupuncture is to maintain the body's balance and stabilize the flow of energy. Symptoms are viewed as a blockage or imbalance in pathways called meridians. In Western Medicine, acupuncture pathways are considered to be channels for the flow of cellular energy. Acupuncturists refer to this energy as Qi. Each pathway runs on the skin surface and deeply into the body connecting to the internal organs and brain. These pathways are accessible via acupuncture points along the skin's surface. When stimulated with acupuncture needles, healing impulses are sent to the limbs, organs, and muscles to alleviate discomfort and repair injured tissue.