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What is Acupuncture?

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Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles under the skin to influence physiological functions by unblocking and rebalancing the flow of vital energy known as Chi or qi along meridians in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine.

 

In recent decades, scientific research has been conducted to better understand how acupuncture works and what conditions it can effectively treat. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus on Acupuncture reported that studies have shown acupuncture can elicit various biological responses, primarily mediated by sensory neurons, affecting structures within the central nervous system. These responses can influence various physiological systems, both in the brain and the periphery, and may involve the activation of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, changes in neurotransmitter and neurohormone secretion, as well as alterations in blood flow regulation and immune function.