How does acupuncture work?

During an acupuncture treatment, fine needles (as fine as a piece of hair) are inserted into "acupuncture points," which are thought to stimulate the body’s nervous system to release certain chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain which in turn release other chemicals and hormones in the body that may help to improve pain and other medical complaints.

Although the way that acupuncture works is not yet fully understood by scientists, recent medical studies have shown that acupuncture is safe, and, when combined with other treatments, can be helpful for some patients with certain conditions.

Most people who practice East Asian Medicine believe that energy or Qi flows through channels in the body that are called meridians. They believe that certain medical conditions result from a blockage or imbalance in the natural flow of these energy channels, and that acupuncture can help in unblocking Qi and restoring balance to the body.