Acupuncture is a form of Bio Therapy or bio-energy therapy that uses very thin needles to pierce specific points called meridian points in the bio-energy meridians of the human body. These meridian points and the meridian channels are integral not only to acupuncture but to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy, treatments and therapies.

Original acupuncture involves the manual manipulation of the needles once they have been placed within the skin at the meridian points. Today some practitioners use a slight electrical current through the needles to stimulate the meridian points. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm

The aim of acupuncture is open the flow of qi (bio-energy) through the meridians to achieve and maintain a balance in the human body. The human body functions as a fine balance between two opposite functions known in acupuncture as: Yin and Yang, or Yin/Yang an imbalance.

Within TCM practices it is believed that when the yin/yang functions are out of balance, the qi becomes blocked and causes diseases and other problems in the human body. Qi can be unblocked by using acupuncture at certain points on the body that connect with these meridians, and restore the flow of qi to bring balance to the Yin/Yang.

In the Western world including USA, and Canada, where alternative medicine practitioners incorporate acupuncture, it is considered to be a part of the complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies.

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year. Between the 2002 and 2007 NHIS, acupuncture use among adults increased by three-tenths of 1 percent (approximately 1 million people). http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2008/nhsr12.pdf

• Triple Helix: Acupuncture (2004)

• Lhasa OMS: Oldest Supplier of Acupuncture Needles

• Acupuncture Direct: Acupuncture Supplies Porthcawl

• Acupuncture Supply Company: Product Catalogue

• Helio Medical Supplies: Acupuncture Needles and Medical Supplies

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