Acupuncture is part of the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese medicine. The origins of acupuncture can be traced back 2000 years and it is one of the oldest and the most long standing health care systems in the world. Acupuncture is the practice of penetrating the skin with thin, solid, and metallic needles. The human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways or meridians. These pathways create an energy flow (Qi, pronounced “chee”) through the body that is responsible for overall health. Disruption of the energy flow can cause disease. By applying acupuncture to certain points, it is thought to improve the flow of Qi, thereby improving health.
Many studies have shown that acupuncture is effective for a variety of conditions. Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment. Acupuncture also has been effectively used in various autonomic nerve-related disorders through modulating the imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, such as cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, anxiety and nervousness, circadian rhythm disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and subfertility.

Oriental medicine takes a holistic approach to the human as a whole, but Western medicine focuses on organs, tissues, cells, and diseases as parts. Due to this, the approach to the human body is different and the principals and methods of treatments are also different. Traditional Chinese medicine also uses methods of attacking poison or bad energy that causes disease in treatment, but it is more important to harmonize and strengthen systemic resistance. On the other hand, Western medicine mainly treats the specific etiology and directly attacks or eliminates it. There are various ways to deal with emergency situations, accurate diagnosis and prognosis can be made through various quantitative tests or imaging test, and surgical techniques have developed to a very high level. However, Western medicine can save a person by showing its strength in emergency situations and acute stages, but there are often no special methods that can be given to make the saved patient healthy again. In contrast to that, Oriental medicine can enhance patient’s own vigor, the disease can recede, and it can use various methods to restore health or make patients healthier. Its less invasive or non-invasive methods also attract more patients due to its less side effects. Oriental medicine is more recognized as a new possibility by patients who suffer from various lifestyle-related diseases, chronic disease, and incurable disease. Western medicine and oriental medicine can supplement each other’s shortcomings. But we still need to look at our body from a holistic perspective.
The body’s natural healing ability to restore itself is a natural ability of living things. These healing systems work day and night and are ready to operate at any time. It is important to practice the right diet and lifestyle for healing. Acupuncture, when taken with a holistic approach, is the most effective way to increase the body’s ability to heal itself.