What is Acupuncture?
A form of alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine involving the insertion of thin needles into the body at certain points. It has been practiced for centuries and was originally explained as a way to balance the flow of energy or life force (qi or chi), which is believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in the human body. However, many Western practitioners have come to view acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. Some believe this stimulation inhibits pain signals and increases blood flow.