Acupuncture is a Chinese practice based on the principles of Chinese medicine. The basis of the practice is the premise that the insertion of needles into specific points in the body can bring relief and even the cure the patient of physical ailments or disease.

While there is no scientific evidence to back up the benefits of acupuncture, many doctors acknowledge that the practice may be capable of aiding patients who have not experienced any success with the use of conventional drugs or medical techniques.

Acupuncturists believe that a person’s medical condition and their consequent symptoms are the result of a disturbance in the flow of qi (pronounced chi and meaning ‘life energy’) in some area of the body. In order to address the disturbance, practitioners insert needles into key point along meridians, which are the channels that Chinese medicine believes are responsible for moving qi around the body.

A patient may have pain or symptoms in a specific area of the body. However, the acupuncturist may diagnose the root cause of the problem as being located elsewhere and consequently needles are often inserted into areas other than those where pain or visible maladies are present. The technique involves little in the way of pain or discomfort although it can be time consuming, sometimes requiring patients to endure lengthy periods with needles in their body.

Acupuncture can be used as a single approach to a medical condition but is often combined with other elements of Chinese medicine for maximum effect. In western countries, the practice has gained popularity among patients wishing to lose weight or stop smoking. Irrespective of the treatment’s efficacy, it’s widely accepted that acupuncture is safe and presents few side effects for those undergoing treatment.