Acupuncture is one of five branches of Traditional Medicine.
The other branches include nutritional guidance, Tui na (a form of Chinese Medical Massage), exercise (Qi Gong and Tai Ji), herbal therapy.
In NYS Acupuncture is defined in the Education Law as: the treating, by means of mechanical, thermal or electrical stimulation effected by the insertion of needles or by the application of heat, pressure or electrical stimulation at a point or combination of points on the surface of the body predetermined on the basis of the theory of the physiological interrelationship of body organs with an associated point or combination of points for diseases, disorders and dysfunctions of the body for the purpose of achieving a therapeutic or prophylactic effect. NYS Education Law,§ 160.
From the Traditional Medical perspective, acupuncture is the manipulation of the body’s energy through the insertion of fine needles at specified points on the body with the goal of helping the body to heal and strengthen. This energy is referred to as Qi (pronounced Chee). When illness occurs it is an external manifestation of weak or disordered Qi.
Acupuncture helps to re-order and strengthen the Qi and thereby eliminate the underlying condition and the symptoms. Acupuncture is part of an ancient medical system that has been practiced for thousands of years. performed by inserting fine needles into specified points on the body. These points have different effects on the Qi and needling a particular point will effect a particular result. Generally, a number of points are selected based on the particular condition and the individual’s general constitution.