My current and prospective patients ask a lot of questions. That’s good. And by a mile, the most frequently-asked question I get – and the most difficult to succinctly answer – is just how acupuncture actually works.
I’ll start by saying this form of medicine has been around for thousands of years, and its staying power is a testament to its results.
How Does Acupuncture Work
Acupuncture works by influencing the energetics of your body. Energy is called “Qi” (pronounced chee) in Chinese. Everyone’s Qi flows the same way from one organ to another at specific times. It is your constitution, life experiences, and diet and lifestyle choices that determine how effectively your Qi flows through the body. The better your Qi flows, the healthier you are. Different levels of Qi blockage produce different symptoms, and cause different illnesses.
Acupuncture works by inserting tiny needles into specific spots. These needles work to redirect the flow of energy to relieve symptoms and enhance overall health.
I like to think of it this way: Acupuncture breaks up the traffic jam inside your body. The needles are the traffic cops that redirect the flow. Once the jam is cleared, the traffic can flow smoothly again.
