Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practised in China for several thousand years. It is based on the philosophy that our health depends on the smooth flow of motivating energy – which is known as Qi [pronounced 'chee'] – throughout the body.
This energy runs in specific pathways commonly known as channels and each channel is connected to a major organ e.g. liver channel, stomach channel, gall bladder channel. The energy has a yin and a yang aspect, and this can get out of balance, through improper diet, lifestyle, trauma, excess stress, weather etc. leading to poor health or illness.
The key to treatment is to ascertain through questioning and examination which channels have become out of balance and then to insert needles in specific points along the channels to stimulate the body's healing and restore the balance and thus alleviate the symptoms.
It is a safe and effective treatment and has few side-effects [see FAQs] It can be used to treat most illnesses [see FAQs] ranging from simple sprains and pain to chronic and severe illness.
For more information see website of the British Acupuncture Council.