Acupuncture was developed thousands of years ago in the Far East and is a primary branch of Chinese medicine. The Chinese call acupuncture Zhue Jiao and it translates to mean, "needle heat". The needle regulates an inner force called Qi, which is responsible for the health of the body. Using acupuncture to control Qi renders a release from stress and helps to develop physical and mental health in other ways.Physical and mental health is developed by releasing stress with acupuncture. A healthy persons? Qi energy should flow unrestricted and any hindrance will be reflected in symptoms of an illness. Waste formulation is removed by the free flowing energy that delivers everything that the cells need. This improves physical as well as mental health. Indications of a physical or mental disease will become evident if Qi is blocked at any point.

The needles are placed in such a way as to return the flow of energy to normal. The number of treatments required will be determined by this analysis and will depend on any symptoms in evidence. Regular visits to an acupuncture clinic are seen as a way of maintaining optimum health in China. Patients in many places in China only pay their acupuncture practitioner if they maintain good health.

Other forms of acupuncture are available besides the use of needles, including electric stimulation, burning and herbs. Unlike Western doctors, who use hollow tube needles; traditional acupuncture is carried out using solid needles and licensed acupuncturists in the west use needles that are pre-sterilized. In most cases the needle acts exclusively on the Qi energy and no medication is used on the needles. For optimum results and depending on the patients needs the needles are either inserted at a specific angle or manipulated.

Regular visits to your acupuncture clinic will help to maintain an optimum flow of Qi and sustain the best of health. The number of consultations required is dependant on you physical or emotional health, from a single visit to several over a period of months. Different points for needle insertion may be chosen at each subsequent visit as your health improves. By selecting these changing positions the Qi energy is altered, eventually reaching its optimum level. The depth of needle insertion is dependant on the course of treatment necessary and can be up to a depth of three inches or just below the surface of the skin and most times the needles insertion is pain free. Some clients often remark upon an infrequent pinching perception. After insertion the needle can easily be forgotten and sensations of a warm and relaxed nature may be experienced at the insertion point when the Qi energy is being directed properly.

One of the most beneficial ways to improve or sustain good health is with acupuncture. Considering acupuncture as a health option is becoming more popular in the western world. Largely, conventional western medicine is starting to understand the benefits of this ancient practise.