History
Acupuncture originated in China over 2500 years ago, but it has only become popular in the United States in the last 40 years.

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners recognize approximately 2000 acupuncture points on the human body which are connected by 71 total pathways called meridians. These meridians conduct energy between the surface of the body and its internal organs.

We call this energy (pronounced "chi"), and it helps regulate balance in the body. Qi is influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang which represent positive and negative energy in the universe and human body. Acupuncture restores the balance between yin and yang, thus allowing for the normal flow of qi throughout the body and the restoration of the mind and body.

How It Works
Acupuncture helps produce a balanced state in the body by allowing the most optimal environment to function, and there are many theories as to exactly how this happens.

One theory suggests that pain impulses are blocked from reaching the spinal cord or brain at various gates. Since a majority of acupuncture points are either connected to or located near neural structures, this theory suggests that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system.

Other theories suggest that acupuncture allows the body to release endorphins or opiods to reduce pain in targeted areas.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all aspects of the body and health can be described as either Yin or Yang. Yin describes what is cool or cold, calm, slow, or chronic, and typically refers to interior conditions. Yang describes what is warm or hot, active, fast, or acute, and typically refers to superficial or exterior conditions. TCM views health as a balance of the Yin and the Yang.

Moxibustion uses moxa, a derivative of the mugwort plant, to stimulate the flow of qi. Moxa is either wrapped around the acupuncture needle and ignited or lit in a cigar-style form and held near the skin; both applications generate a pleasant heating sensation with no danger of burning the skin. At the Acupuncture Center, we prefer to use a smokeless version of moxa.

Cupping is a practice wherein a bell-shaped cup is vacuum-sealed onto the skin using heat or suction. This causes the skin and underlying tissue to draw into and be held within the cup. We employ this method of treatment to improve the flow of qi by encouraging efficient blood flow.

Traditionally, cups were made out of horn or bamboo, but at the Acupuncture Center, we primarily use plastic or glass cups.

Chinese herbal medicine is a primary component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Herbal formulas are instrumental in treating a variety of conditions by working with the body's natural processes, and in many cases, the formulas used today have been in use for over 2,000 years.

Herbs are given in many different forms. The most common forms we use at the Acupuncture Center are pian (tablet form) or wan (tea pill form). While all forms are equally effective, we consider wan to be the easiest to ingest.

Each individual has a unique constitution and relationship to the environment; therefore, not everyone with the same condition may be given the same herbs.

All the herbal formulas we use or recommend have been certified under the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines.

As with most health practices, the first visit to an acupuncturist will begin with an interview regarding your medical history. After reviewing the information, the acupuncturist will begin diagnosing your ailment. You may expect an examination of the tongue and pulse.

Using this information, the acupuncturist will determine the cause of your symptoms. Depending on the condition, needles will be inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body. The practitioner may use moxa or electrical stimulation to enhance acupuncture's therapeutic effect.

Your first visit may take between 30 and 90 minutes. It may take as little as one visit to see significant improvement or cure your condition; however, the average number of visits to see this improvement is three.

When practiced by a licensed, certified, and well-trained acupuncturist, acupuncture is safe for almost all individuals.

Keep in mind that acupuncture treatments should be tailored to your specific needs, so let your acupuncturist know of any underlying conditions you may have Be sure to notify your acupuncturist if you have a pacemaker, the tendency to bruise or bleed easily, or if you are a hemophiliac.