Acupuncture (TCM)

Acupuncture originated in the Far East more than 2,500 years ago. It is the traditional Chinese healing art of inserting fine hair-like needles into the body to relieve pain and cure disease.

Strategic placement of the needles restores the body's natural balance, releases energy blocks, and enhances the function of the body's organs. Unlike those used for injections, the needles used in acupuncture are solid, and as fine as human hair. Some people feel a slight tingling when the needles are inserted; others a dull ache. The needles might be placed for a few minutes or left for twenty minutes if needs be. People are so relaxed, that they frequently fall asleep during an acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture is a safe, holistic approach to the maintenance of good health and the management of disease. It can be used to treat people with a wide range of illnesses. It focuses on improving the overall well-being of a person, rather than the isolated treatment of specific symptoms, and diagnosis goes to the root cause of the problem.

In Chinese medicine, our health is dependent on the flow of our body's vital energy known as Qi. This moves through a series of pathways or channels beneath our skin, called meridians. Acupuncture points are located along these meridians, and provide one means of altering the flow of Qi. This can become interrupted and blocked due to mental, physical and emotional factors. Such disturbance in the strength and quality of the Qi might be due to anxiety, stress, anger, grief, fear, poor nutrition, traumas, infections, toxins, etc. It is often a very complex pattern of disharmony, and needs skilled diagnosis by the practitioner, as each patient is unique. Acupuncture treatment is always aimed at restoring balance.

Moxibusion is sometimes incorporated into an acupuncture session. It is an oriental medicine therapy utilizing moxa, or mugwort herb (Artemesia vulgaris). A stick or cone of burning mugwort is placed above an inflamed or affected area of the body, on an acupuncture point. The practitioner will not allow it to burn the skin. The purpose is to stimulate and strengthen the blood and the life energy, or Qi, of the body.

As it burns, the Moxa produces a mild, warming heat that penetrates deeply into the muscles. This is a very relaxing and enjoyable experience. Moxabustion is particularly known for its ability to turn breech presentation babies into a normal head-down position. It is also very effective in treating menstrual cramps, where the stick is waved over the abdominal area. Often, the cramps disappear immediately.