What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is inserting and manipulating filiform needles into designated points on the body to restore health and treat pain and disease. Acupuncture has been practiced in the USA for more than 150 years but it was not until President Nixon returned from his trip to China in the 70’s that there was a boom in popularity. In 1971, New York Times political analyst, James Reston had an appendectomy in Beijing using ONLY acupuncture for anesthesia and to reduce pain post-surgically with moxa (Chinese herb often burned over specific needle points or on top of the needle).

Are there any safety concerns with Acupuncture?

The 3 most common minor adverse events include:

  • Minor bleeding
  • Bruising or hematoma development at the needle site
  • Dizziness or needle sickness (may be due to deficiencies in the patient and not necessarily a result of treatment)

These risks are slight and can be avoided through proper training and credentialing of acupuncture practitioners.

What is Qi (pronounced Chee)?

Qi is the energy that travels through the body via the meridian system. There are many forms of Qi (da Qi is the sensation most commonly felt during the insertion of needles in an Acupuncture treatment session)