“I’ve been on my feet for six hours. My lower back is killing me, and these new Dansko shoes aren’t helping.” -ER Nurse
In traditional Chinese medicine, Qi is an energy that flows through the body along fourteen different channels. Very tiny, hair-fine acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points along the channels to stimulate Qi. The needles usually remain in the skin for less than thirty minutes.
Two main theories seek to explain how acupuncture works. According to conventional medicine, acupuncture stimulates the release of chemicals that dull pain and boost the immune system. And according to Chinese medicine, acupuncture aids in the body’s natural healing abilities by balancing Qi.
Studies suggest that acupuncture can help treat:
- Addiction and depression
- Head, back, and neck pain
- Fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis pain
- Pain from surgery
