What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional therapy that uses the insertion of extremely thin, flexible, stainless-steel needles into the body at specific points in order to stimulate a natural healing response.  Acupuncture comes from China, where it has been used for over five-thousand years to heal people of sickness and disease, making it the oldest medical tradition in the world.  Acupuncture is one healing modality of a complete system of medicine known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  TCM practitioners rely on an ancient and holistic perspective on how the body works in order to correctly diagnosis illness and develop a treatment plan for the patient.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture works based on a theory of energy in the body, which the Chinese call “Qi” [CHEE]. The Qi moves around the body along specific pathways, called “meridians.” The meridians connect the organs and tissues of the body together into a synergistic whole.

According to TCM medical theory, all of the organs and tissues of the body depend upon Qi flowing through these meridians in a strong and balanced way.  Sickness, pain, and disease are considered the result of a weakness, stagnation, or imbalance in the flow of Qi through the meridians.  Acupuncture corrects this imbalance, unblocks the flow of Qi, and helps to strengthen the Qi flowing through your body in order to resolve disease and establish lasting and vibrant health.

To accomplish the restoration and balance of Qi, acupuncturists place the needles at very precise locations along the meridians.  These locations are called “acupuncture points.”  The acupuncture points are like little hot-spots of communication and energy.  Each of them sends a different signal to the body when stimulated.  Acupuncturists know the location and function of hundreds of acupuncture points on the body, and they will carefully select and stimulate the right ones in order to restore the balance of Qi.   They will always select acupuncture points based on their patient’s unique pattern of symptoms and underlying disharmonies.

How Does an Acupuncturist Diagnose Their Patient?

To an acupuncturist, every person has their own special underlying disharmonies, or “root” causes of their health problems.  Everyone’s body is unique, and therefore no two patients should be treated the same way, even if they have what appear to be the same symptoms. In other words, if you have a headache, it does not mean that it is being caused by the same root disorders as someone else’s headache.   It all depends on where in the body the Qi has become stuck or deficient.   Your acupuncturist will employ time-tested diagnostic techniques to determine where the flow of Qi has been obstructed.   These techniques include a visual analysis of your tongue and a special system for analyzing the arterial pulses at your wrists. It also includes examining the patient’s outward appearance and complexion and palpating the abdomen for areas of Qi obstruction or deficiency.  Your acupuncturist will also want to ask you a lot of questions about all of your bodily functions, including how your body regulates temperature and sweating, the health of your sense organs, your bowel and urinary functions, appetite and digestion, reproductive function, heart and lung health, energy and vitality, and your emotional state. (This is by no means an exhaustive list). Through these traditional diagnostic tools and questions, your acupuncturist will be able to successfully determine the root cause of your particular disorder.  They will then establish a treatment protocol to resolve the root cause of the problem.   In this way, acupuncturists do not just treat the symptoms of disease, but they actually seek to resolve the underlying reason for the disease itself.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The best answer would be: “Sometimes it does-- but not very much.”  Occasionally a patient will feel a very light pricking sensation as the needle enters the skin.  Most of the time, however, they will not feel the needle enter at all.  The needles are just so tiny and thin.   In fact, they are only about twice the thickness of a human hair.

At Zen Medicinals, we often have patients who suffer from a mild needle phobia.  Muki just tells them to relax and close their eyes.  After he has already put in several needles, they often tell him: “Okay, you can start now.”  So it really is a very mild sensation, and it often goes completely unnoticed.

After the needle is in the body, your acupuncturist might stimulate it a little.  This is called “Gathering the Qi,” and it is how your acupuncturists activates the healing response in the body and gets the Qi moving in the right way.  This stimulation can result in a strange, “zinging” sensation.  It feels different from point to point and person to person.  Some people feel a tingle, others feel a strong pulse of movement.  Some people feel a heaviness or pressure, and others feel nothing at all.

At Zen Medicinals, if you are just too frightened of the needles to give them a try, you can always request an herbal and nutritional consultation instead.   (To learn more about the different treatment options at Zen Medicinals, please click here.)

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

Yes, it does!  The Chinese people have used acupuncture and herbal medicine for thousands of years, and with great success.  In fact, TCM is the most commonly used alternative medicine in the world today.  In China, there are hospitals in every major city dedicated solely to the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine.   Muki has spent time interning at one of these hospitals (in Chengdu), and the healing that he saw take place there was astounding.

In fact, Muki himself is a living testament to the effectiveness of acupuncture.  Muki used to suffer with pains in his legs, shoulders, and arms every single day.  That pain (along with all of his other ailments) has now been completely resolved, thanks to this wonderful medicine.   You can read more about Muki's own path to healing on his Bio page.  Muki's patients also get wonderful results— please visit the Testimonials page to read what they have to say about how acupuncture has changed their lives.

But you don’t have to take their word for it, or Muki's—there is plenty of very compelling research being done on the effectiveness of acupuncture at famous health, government, and educational institutions all over the world.  For more specific questions about how Muki can help you, please feel free to contact us at our clinic by visiting our Contact page.