QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

                                  What Is Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of healing art known to mankind
and it was originated in China nearly five thousand years ago. The word
“acupuncture” is divisable in two parts, acu- and puncture. Acu- in Latin
means needle and puncture comes from Latin to pierce with a pointed
instrument. Acupuncture is a practice of insertion of needles into specific
exterior body locations to relieve pain, to induce biological changes, and
for therapeutic purposes.

Acupuncture points are located and joined together in “channels” or
“meridians”, along which Qi (life energy) flows. The points used in
treatment are carefully chosen by acupuncturist to disperse any blockages
and to bring the patient's Qi into balance.

Most acupuncturists in the USA are now using fine, sterilized, and
disposable needles in practice. The needling induced pain is minimal and
adverse reaction is very rare.

Moxibustion is the process whereby a dried herb is burnt, either directly on
the skin or indirectly above the skin over specific acupuncture points to
warm the Qi and Blood in the channels. In modern clinic, a substitute
device called TDP lamp is often used for the very same purpose of
moxibustion.