Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture is a healing practice that originated in China more than 2,500 years ago. It is a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine that involves stimulating strategic points on the body, usually using very thin needles. In the United States, acupuncture is considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Numerous studies have shown that acupuncture may help people manage painful conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, migraine, headaches, fibromyalgia, dental pain, and menstrual cramps. Acupuncture also may help with symptoms of nausea, especially nausea that is caused by chemotherapy.

Today, there are many styles and forms of acupuncture, including variations that do not involve needles (acupressure), and medical acupuncture, which is fully integrated with conventional medical therapy.

What is the basis for acupuncture?

All forms of traditional acupuncture are based on a set of common principles. According to these principles, health and disease are a reflection of "qi" in the body — qi (pronounced CHEE) is the "bio-energy" that flows through channels (called meridians) in the body, each of which feeds an essential organ and the muscular structures along the way. These channels surface at various acupuncture points on the body. According to the principles of acupuncture, manipulation of these acupuncture points will "regulate the energy within the channel" to promote a more healthful state. The manipulation of the acupuncture points involves either puncturing the skin with small needles, applying pressure, or burning a small herbal fluff over the skin ("moxibustion").