What is Acupuncture?

What is Acupuncture?

The word acupuncture is derived from Latin roots, with the Latin word acus means a needle and therefore acupuncture means to puncture with a needle.

Acupuncture is an ancient science and art of healing. It is a method of treatment involving the insertion of fine needles into various points of the body along pathways which we call meridians or channels. It is used worldwide to treat a wide range of illnesses and disorders. There are over 500 acupuncture points, some 365 of which are located and linked on channels/meridians, along which energy, also known as qi follows.

The philosophy is that health depends on the flow and balance of qi/energy through these meridians. Qi or energy underlies the balance functioning in the body. The practitioner will carefully choose points to bring your qi into better balance. The more this balance is achieved and maintained, the healthier you become. An acupuncturist considers each person to be completely unique and all treatments are tailor-made to suit the individual, aiming to treat the person as a whole, not a disease or disorder. By re-establishing the balance of all energies in the body, the process of physical deterioration and disease can be impressively reduced.

Acupuncture has an accumulative effect, which is the reason why regular treatments at certain intervals are advised to maintain optimal health and well-being. The ultimate aim is to promote wellness and create growth with an emphasis on preventative medicine.