Acupuncture

I have always believed that with the right treatment the body has the ability to heal itself. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. This is done by inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points.

How does Acupuncture Work

The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface like a network of rivers nourishing a landscape. These energy channels are called meridians, and the energy that flows through them is called ‘Qi’. This ‘Qi’ flows through the meridians nourishing the whole body. The meridians collectively form the matrix within which the physical body functions. They also act as a network of communication between the physical and the more subtle energetic bodies.  An obstruction along these meridians can upset the smooth flow and ultimately can cause health problems just as a dam across a river will cause everything to back up. Things such as trauma to the body, eating the wrong foods, emotional upset act can all affect smooth flow thus causing various different health problems. The smooth flow can be re-established by needling certain acupuncture points which unblock the obstructions causing the body to rebalance it’s natural energy and subsequently returning the person back to full health. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians.

The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system.
The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.