Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical procedure involving the stimulation or manipulation at more than 1000 "Acupoints" on the body. Dating back some 7000 years, it is one of the oldest medical systems known to man.

Ancient Chinese physicians considered that life-force energy, which they called "Chi" needed to circulate freely throughout the body. If there is a break in Chi circulation anywhere then illness would result.

For example the traditional Chinese view of a backache is that the Chi circulating in the Bladder Meridian (which runs over the back) has become stagnant. The remedy is to stimulate an Acupoint thus encouraging the flow to re-establish itself. By correcting meridian imbalances Acupuncture seeks to activate the bodies own self-healing powers.

Dr. Kirby McGill

In Western medical terms, we are accustomed to thinking of diseases as specific entities. Consequently, we tend to judge the effectiveness of therapy in similar terms - it works if it gets rid of the disease. In the case of acupuncture, however, a different approach is required.

For instance, let's consider whether or not acupuncture can treat arthritis or asthma? An acupuncturist would ask if the Chi which is so blocked as to cause the immobility of arthritis be moved and flexibility restored? Can the imbalance that is causing the asthma be corrected?

Rather than asking simply can a cancer be cured, the acupuncturist would ask if the person suffering from cancer can be brought back to health, or if this is unrealistic because of the extent of the growth, can their suffering be reduced?

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