Over the years, acupuncture has evolved and adapted to the needs of current society and is now used by one third of the world's population as a means of primary health care. It is also endorsed by the World Health Organization for it's effectiveness in treating over 40 conditions, such as depression, headaches, allergies, and stress. One of the fundamental theories of acupuncture includes the premise that qi (pronounced chee) flows through our body in pathways called meridians, or channels. Qi is what gives us life, allows us to grow, digest our food, and be animate. When qi is flowing smoothly through the channels, there is health. However, when the body experiences physical or emotional trauma, and is subject poor lifestyle choices, blockages or deficiencies in the channels can occur. The organs then become starved of vital energy, resulting in the manifestation of symptoms. Acupuncture seeks to restore the smooth movement qi in the body through the insertion of fine needles at various points along the channels at the surface of the skin, where the qi is most available.
Unlike Western medicine, where many different people may be prescribed the same drug for the same complaint, Chinese medicine looks at each individual as unique and therefore treatments are custom designed for each patient. While many Western drug therapies do not address the underlying cause for disease, acupuncture seeks to treat both the symptoms and their root cause. This method allows for healing to occur at a deep level, rather than merely masking symptoms.
