Acupuncture is the most commonly practiced modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine today.  It has earned continued recognition and validity in the Western world for the treatment of many health conditions.  Among these are acute and chronic pain, stress, anxiety, depression, infertility, and fatigue. 

During a treatment, extremely thin, hair-like, sterile needles are gently inserted at specific points on the body.  These points are at the intersection of neurons (nerve cells), which react to stimulation.  When the acupuncture needle stimulates those areas, both the peripheral and central nervous systems are activated.  That triggers the release of the body's internal chemicals, such as endorphins and enkephalins, which have pain relieving properties.

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Acupuncture also has the effect of vasodilating blood vessels, meaning it increases blood flow throughout the body.  This action is so crucial for good health because blood contains many life-sustaining substances such as oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and immune cells.  These must be transported throughout our bodies to maintain good health. 

The word "qi", commonly associated with acupuncture, roughly translates to "air" or "oxygen".  Oxygen is one of the vital substances acupuncture helps to mobilize in the blood.  In addition, acupuncture assists the blood to carry away waste, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, from cells and into the kidneys, liver, and intestines for excretion.