What is Acupuncture and how does it work?

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Acupuncture originated in China as a system of diagnosing and treating pain and disease and has been practiced for thousands of years. It involves inserting very fine needles through the patients skin at specific points on the body. Acupuncture points are found on meridians where the vital qi energy runs.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine health results when there is a harmonious balance of the yin and yang life forces known as Qi. When this yin and yang energy  flows harmoniously the body is in perfect balance and disease, illness or pain cannot occur. Qi flows through 14 pathways in our bodies. These pathways of energy flow can be accessed through 350 different acupuncture points on the body. It is believed that disease is caused by disruptions to this energy flow, or qi. Acupuncture can bring this energy flow back into balance restoring healthy flow. Acupuncture is used to encourage natural healing, reduce or relieve pain and improve function in areas of the body that are not functioning optimally.

Acupuncture is safe and effective and is used as an alternative to medications and even surgery, it has shown to be effective when other traditional medical therapies have failed.

How does it work?

Acupuncture stimulates the body to produce its own pain relieving chemicals called  'endorphins'. These endorphins mimic morphine by attaching to opiate receptor sites found throughout the nervous system. These endorphins help to block pain signals sent from the body to the brain and this results in pain relief, reduced inflammation, relaxation and ultimately allows the body's own internal regulation system to restore.

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