Simply stated, acupuncture is a health science which is used to treat both pain and dysfunction in the body. The science is between 5,000 and 7,000 years old with its roots deeply planted in China. Chinese Physicians discovered that the human body has an energy network traversing just below the surface of the skin. This energy flow courses over twelve meridians that are normally well-balanced.  If there is disruption of the energy flow, it can alter the entire system, producing pain or other symptoms in the body. Thus, the goal of acupuncture is to restore normalcy to the body’s energy balance by utilizing combinations of Acupoints located on the twelve meridians. The Acupoints can be stimulated by means of a needle, electronic stimulation, laser or pressure massage.

Acupuncture needles are extremely slender and therefore do not cause pain. Most people compare the sensation to something that is “less than a mosquito bite.” There is a phenomena referred to as “TEHCHI” once the energy is contacted, and this is typically felt as a mild to moderate heaviness or tingling.

There are many different conditions that respond well to acupuncture such as acute and chronic pain relief, headaches and migraine, allergies, skin conditions, fatigue and gastric problems, to name a few. The number of acupuncture treatments varies with different conditions and individuals. Chronic problems generally require longer treatment duration than acute ones. Some individuals notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment while others may not notice any effect until the seventh or eighth visit. The recommended number of treatments is between eight and sixteen with a frequency of one to four times a week.  It is possible to achieve improvement with a few sessions, but it is recommended to have several visits often to achieve better success. Correcting imbalance takes time and when you correct the balance you correct the problem.