| Acupuncture affects the meridians and chakras, or energy pathways and centers, of the body. When the chi or subtle energy that moves through these channels becomes blocked or unbalanced for whatever reason, people often experience pain, illness, or emotional distress. Acupuncture uses very fine needles, about 0.25 mm in diameter, to unblock and balance these energy channels to improve a person's health. Needles are gently inserted into various parts of the body, such as the head, ear, back, chest, abdomen, arms, hands, legs, or feet. Although there are hundreds of acupuncture points, a treatment usually requires only a few needles. While the needles are in place, people may feel nothing at all, or sometimes they may experience warmth or a slight tingling sensation. The needles usually remain in place from ten to thirty minutes. During an acupuncture treatment, people often feel drowsy and may even fall asleep. Afterward, people may feel relaxed, energized, or with a heightened sense of well-being. Most people, even if they have a strong dislike of needles, find acupuncture very comfortable and enjoyable. Acupuncture is a very versatile modality that can be used to treat many different ailments. It also plays an important role in preventive medicine. For example, if someone frequently catches colds, acupuncture can strengthen their immune system so they are less likely to get sick. In addition, acupuncture can often affect symptoms that are not always addressable from a Western paradigm. Suppose a person always feels hot or cold, craves sweets, or tends to feel tired at a certain time of day. While these symptoms may not seem particularly significant from a Western viewpoint, from an acupuncture perspective these phenomena can provide useful clues as to what's going on with the person. Sometimes people find it hard to believe that a modality as subtle as acupuncture can have such far-reaching effects. However, small changes can have large consequences. When a person's chi becomes more balanced, their overall health, energy level, and outlook can all improve. |
 |
 |