Acupuncture ~ What is it? When your body is in equilibrium or harmony, good health usually ensues. Acupuncture, through the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body, regulates the flow of the body’s vital energy or Qi, helping to build and maintain the body’s equilibrium. Lifestyle and the body’s response to our environment can result in qi becoming disturbed, depleted or blocked, which can result in some symptoms of pain and / or illness, thus Acupuncture can be an effective therapy to help restore balance, promoting physical and emotional harmony. History Acupuncture originated over 2000 years ago in China and other far eastern cultures, where it remains a mainstream therapy, both stand-alone and in combination with conventional western medicine. Such approaches to health management are now widely used all over the world and more and more people are finding out what acupuncture can do for them. What can it do for me? People may turn to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms such as to relieve the pain from tension headaches or osteoarthritis of the knee, whilst others choose to have treatment to help maintain good health, as a preventive measure, or simply to improve their general sense of wellbeing. As acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than specific symptom alone, it can be effective for a range of conditions and can be used alongside conventional medicine. Tailoring treatment to individuals needs means it is considered suitable for all ages including children. Traditional Chinese therapy techniques such as cupping or Tui Na – a type of massage can also add to the wellbeing felt from treatment.