Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that typically incorporates traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an integral part of its practice and theory. The term “acupuncture” is sometimes used to refer to insertion of needles at points to relieve pain, treat and prevent disease, promote general health, or for therapeutic purposes.
Ideas of what constitutes health and healing sometimes differ from concepts used in scientific, evidence based medicine. Acupuncture was developed prior to the science of human anatomy and the cell theory upon which the science of biology is based. Disease is believed to be caused, not by infectious agents, but by an imbalance of yin and yang (a metaphysical balance) caused by a “blockage” or “stagnation” of metaphysical energy known as qi (pronounced “chee”) which is believed to flow within and without the body. TCM and acupuncture treat these imbalances, thereby stimulating the patient’s own natural healing process.