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What Does Acupuncture Do?
by Dr. David L. Wick, D.C.

Many newspapers and popular magazines are reporting the benefits of acupuncture treatments, but the deeper significance behind acupuncture is very rarely discussed by the media and deserves a little discussion here.

Acupuncture was developed over 5,000 years ago by the Chinese to naturally improve the flow of energy through the body to various organs, glands and tissues. The Chinese define health as all parts of the body functioning normally, and acupuncturists seek to find interruptions in the normal flow of energy and remove the blockages, thereby improving body functions.

The Chinese defined 14 major energy vessels throughout the body which are known as meridians. Several spots along each meridian may be treated to better improve energy flow. These spots are known as the acupuncture "points." Problems at such points may be detected by many methods including various signs, symptoms, pain spots or instrument findings. I will often coordinate such signs with the findings of applied kinesiologic testing.

Although we commonly refer to our treatments as "acupuncture," it would be better described as "meridian therapy" because we use a number of means to treat those acupuncture points without always puncturing the skin. One treatment remains the traditional needle method, but other effective methods include electric stimulation, vibratory acupuncture point stimulation, and acupressure. Each may be used at various stages to achieve the levels of improvement we desire while providing the most comfortable treatments to our patients.

Acupuncture is a tremendous complement to chiropractic work because while the treatments are very different, the philosophies of treatment are much the same. Just as chiropractic removes the obstructions of Life Force (Innate intelligence) at the spine, acupuncture regulates the flow of Life Force (Qi) throughout the body. We very often combine acupuncture with chiropractic treatments to achieve the best possible results for our patients.

This article is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of any illness. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions should only be performed by your doctor of chiropractic or other licensed health care professional. Please use this article for informational purposes only. This information does not replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare provider.