What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating these points can correct imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. Current scientific research supports acupuncture's efficacy in the relief of certain types of pain and post-operative nausea.

 The use of acupuncture for certain conditions has been tentatively endorsed by the United States National Institutes of Health, the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, the World Health Organization, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine^.

There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needles but does carry a small (five in one million) risk of serious adverse effects.


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