Acupuncture: What To Know

Acupuncture What To Know: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that utilizes thin needles in various body areas to reduce pain and inflammation. This practice is based on the concept of qi, or life energy that flows throughout the body along different pathways called meridians. When the flow of qi through a meridian is blocked or disrupted, pain or illness is thought to result.

Acupuncturists use thin needles to stimulate specific points to correct energy flow and alleviate bodily imbalances to relieve pain and illness. Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. The medical community recognizes the potential benefits of using acupuncture to help relieve pain by directly stimulating problematic soft tissues through needle insertion.

There is a lack of consistency and generalizability of clinical trials studying acupuncture, but emerging evidence suggests the practice does provide symptom relief for patients suffering from joint pain, especially those with arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. #acupuncture what to know