Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of conditions and optimize overall health and wellness. It involves the insertion of very thin, sterile, single use, stainless steel needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of energy, or qi, and restore balance, or homeostasis. Acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy that can be used to address many issues including pain, anxiety, women’s health, infertility, headaches/migraines, digestive issues, respiratory disorders and much more. It is also used to promote general wellness and boost immunity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as a valuable medical modality and published a report listing the symptoms, conditions and diseases that have been shown through controlled clinical trials to be treated effectively by acupuncture, and recommends it for over 100 conditions. Please click here for a link to that report.

The origins of acupuncture can be traced back to ancient China, where it was first recorded in the Huangdi Neijing, a medical text that dates back to around 200 BCE. Over the centuries, acupuncture has been refined and developed, with new techniques and approaches being added to the practice. Today, acupuncture is used all over the world and has been embraced by Western medicine as a legitimate and complimentary discipline.

One of the key benefits of acupuncture is its ability to treat pain. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can help to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow to targeted areas, and stimulate the endogenous opioid system to release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective in treating a wide range of pain conditions, including sciatica, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and arthritis.

Acupuncture is also an effective therapy for treating stress, anxiety and depression. By activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the system involved in the body’s natural relaxation response, acupuncture can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels, and improve mood. It has also been shown to be effective in treating other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction.

Overall, acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy that has stood the test of time. This natural and non-invasive modality can be used alongside Western interventions in an integrative way to enhance or accelerate the treatment, as well as manage any unwanted side effects. Whatever ailment you are struggling with, acupuncture can help to restore harmony to the mind and body so that healing can take place.