Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a practice of medicine that dates back to more than 2000 years. It utilizes the Chinese medical theory that Qi is an energy force that travels through our body along meridians, or channels. When Qi gets stuck along one of the meridians, pain ensues at that point of stagnation. By carefully selecting acupuncture points that have the function of moving Qi and unblocking stagnation in that particular meridian, the insertion of fine, hair-like needles into those points will help to restore the flow of Qi in that meridian, thus relieving the pain.
Another theory of Chinese medicine is to balance the Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood in our body. If something is deficient, selecting and then needling acupuncture points that have the function of tonifying (or nourishing) will help bring the body back into balance. If something is in excess, selecting acupuncture points that have the function of sedating will restore balance in the body.
Western medicine conceptualizes acupuncture’s analgesic effect by describing that the insertion of a needle into an acupuncture point will stimulate the sensory nerves in that area to send impulses to the brain. The brain then releases endorphins, cortisol, and other neurotransmitters that block pain messages and thus relieve pain. Clinical studies that have been conducted since the 1970s have found acupuncture effective for pain therapy in addition to a variety of other medical conditions.