What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has an extraordinary ability to transform people’s lives by relieving physical, emotional and mental suffering. It is based on the belief that the body, mind and spirit are inseparable and that health is dependent on the body’s energy (Qi) moving through the meridians (channels of energy) smoothly. When Qi is unbalanced, illness occurs. In Chinese medicine therefore, we treat the whole person by balancing their Qi - addressing physical, emotional and spiritual issues in order to reach the root cause of a condition.

You may have heard of the Five Elements and TCM, as two means of diagnosing and treating using acupuncture. For an in-depth explanation of these terms and their meaning as well as how LCTA students use Chinese medicine in practice, go to Our Approach to Teaching.

By inserting fine needles into the meridians, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help to restore its natural balance. The needles are as fine as a horse hair and very sharp. Insertion is virtually painless, although the movement of energy prompted by the needle sometimes produces a slight jolt.

One of the common effects of acupuncture is an increase in a patient’s general sense of wellbeing, an improvement in their outlook on life and a lift in their spirits.

The needles do not of themselves make you better: they simply remind the body how to heal itself.