What is acupuncture and how does it work?

The art and science of acupuncture is to use a needle(s) to manipulate the flow of energy in the body to achieve the objective of improving one’s health. This is different from conventional medicine, in that it does not use any medication, neither internal nor external.

There are many different energy channels in the human body, historically, going by the books there are 14 channels that cover all parts of the body, these are known as the “conventional” channels. The acupuncture points that line these routes (much like bus or subway stops in our transit system) are known as “regular” points. There are in addition 8 “rare” or “extra” routes that connect these regular channels. Further there are the “extra” points that are not located on any known energy routes in the body. Sometimes these “extra” points have fantastic curative effects.

In the view of Chinese medicine, a person is sick because some energy channels are blocked, much like a river is not flowing properly because there are stuff in it that prevents the water from flowing freely. With needle manipulation, an acupuncturist is able to unblock the flow of energy in the body, and when that energy flows freely as it should, the person regains his/her health. That is how it works.

Now there is a question though, some may think, would you not cause additional blockage when you place a needle in the energy flow? Would you not make people sicker by doing that? Share with me your thoughts on this, and I will explain to you why it does not work the other way around, in my next blog post.