Acupuncture is a complete medical system that has been developed over thousands of years through observing human behavior and disease patterns. The human body consists of a system of points on and just below the skin that correspond to connections to healing pathways. Through the precise placement of tiny needles into a combination of these points, the practitioner can manipulate the patient’s energy, or Qi, promoting the body’s own healing ability.
Although acupuncture at one time was thought of as a medicine practiced mainly in the Far East, in recent years it has been acknowledged in the medical community as a less invasive alternative to Western medicine. Acupuncture can also be used as a complement to Western medicine; for example, after a major surgery, acupuncture therapy can be used to expedite the patient’s healing process by encouraging Qi and blood flow to regenerate injured or broken tissues.