Acupuncture is a system of diagnosis and treatment originating in East Asian medical practice and now widely used around the world. It involves the insertion of thin sterile needles at points on the body according to an understanding of channels of energy flow developed over several thousand years. The careful selection of acupuncture points and their appropriate stimulation are quite sophisticated and involve extensive study and clinical experience.

Several different systems of acupuncture are practiced today, some based on modern TCM, others on classical traditions preceding the so-called Cultural Revolution in China. Practitioners in Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Western countries have also developed distinct approaches. Acupuncture is used in sports medicine and to release trigger points. It is a highly flexible approach and powerful in the hands of a knowledgeable and experienced acupuncture physician.

Acupuncture can be augmented with manual therapy, heat therapy, auricular therapy, aromatherapy, even homeopathy, to deepen and prolong its therapeutic effects. In most situations, your health will benefit from a series of acupuncture visits as the effects of acupuncture are usually cumulative.

Acupuncture can be combined with botanical medicine, nutrition and supplements, and with self-care approaches like qigong, tai chi, yoga and meditation.

According to the US National Health Interview Survey, nearly 7.5 million Americans received acupuncture in 2022.