Acupuncture is an ancient medicine technique originating in China that focuses on treating all parts of a person to achieve wellness and comfort. The philosophy that shapes and drives acupuncture, is thousands of years old and it is widely recognized as an integral part of the longest existing continuous medical system practiced in the world.
Acupuncture made its way to the U.S. in the early 1970s. In 1971, New York Times reporter James Reston was treated with acupuncture during a visit to Beijing and wrote an article about how it helped treat post-operative pain. The following year, the first legal acupuncture center in the U.S. opened in Washington, D.C. and in 1973, the IRS allowed taxpayers to take acupuncture treatments as a medical expense deduction.
Now, nearly 50 years later, acupuncture has become more mainstream and is rapidly growing in use and acceptance. Since its founding in 2001, Empirical Point has been meeting the growing demand for acupuncture services and is now one of the leading practices in the Philadelphia region, serving patients throughout the city and the surrounding suburbs.
How Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture patients are treated using thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. According to the tenets of Chinese Medicine, stimulating these points can correct imbalances in the flow of Qi (“chee”) through the body’s channels.
Life processes are at work every moment, directing thousands of activities including circulation, sensation, inspiration, awareness and the ebb and flow of emotional tides. This motivating life energy is called Qi. Qi moves along pathways that lie just beneath the skin. Each of these channels corresponds to a specific physiological system and inner organ, forming an energetic map of the body that provides unique insight into the state of your health. The harmonious flow of Qi is essential to true health; blocked or stagnant Qi results in imbalance and eventually disease. The task of the acupuncturist is to restore balance and unity to the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of being.
Clinical studies recently published in top peer-reviewed medical journals have shown acupuncture to be effective in treating a wide range of diseases and conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, migraines, lower back pain, cancer fatigue, insomnia, auto immune disease and arthritis.
Learn what to expect at an acupuncture appointment with Empirical Point Acupuncture.
