Acupuncture works with Qi
At the core of this ancient medicine is the fact that Qi (pronounced “chee”), or vital energy, flows throughout the body. This Qi animates the body and protects it from illness, pain and disease. A person’s health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of Qi.
How does Qi move?
Meridian pathways are like rivers flowing inside the body. Where a river flows, it transports life-giving water that provides nourishment to the land, plants and people. Similarly, where meridian pathways flow, they bring life-giving Qi that provides nourishment to every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in the body.
How is Qi disrupted?
An obstruction to the flow of Qi is like a traffic jam. When Qi becomes backed up in one part of the body, the flow becomes restricted in other parts. This blockage of the flow of Qi can be detrimental to a person’s health, cutting off vital nourishment to the body, organs and glands.
Normally, when a blockage or imbalance occurs, the body easily bounces back, returning to a state of health and well-being. However, when this disruption is prolonged or excessive, or if the body is in a weakened state, illness, pain, or disease can set in.
What does an acupuncture Physician Do?
An Acupuncture Physician facilitates natural healing by unblocking the flow of Qi in the body to stimulate self-healing. During the initial exam, the acupuncture physician will listen, ask questions and conduct physical exams including pulse and tongue diagnosis. 
With this information the acupuncturist will detect specific blockages and imbalances of Qi in the organs and body systems that contribute to a person’s health problems.
Once the imbalances and blockages of Qi are detected, an acupuncturist will place fine, sterile needles at specific acupuncture points along meridian pathways on the body. This safe and painless insertion of fine, sterile needles helps Qi freely circulate throughout the body, providing adequate nourishment to cells, organs, glands, tissues and muscles. Qi circulation lessens and eliminates pain, restores balance and harmony, assists the body’s ability to heal itself and ultimately restores optimal health.
Acupuncture is an effective form of medical treatment that has evolved into a complete holistic health care system. Practitioners of acupuncture and Oriental medicine have used this noninvasive treatment method for over 3000 years to help millions of people become well and stay well.
