Traditional Chinese Medicine views a person as an energy system in which body and mind are unified, each influencing and balancing the other.Qi - The basic foundation for Oriental medicine is that there is a life energy flowing through the body which is called "Qi" (pronounced chee). This energy flows through the body on channels known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or is blocked.

There are certain points on the body which if punctured relieve pain or produce beneficial effect for certain disorders. Through the passage of time, many such points were discovered and it was found that by stimulating widely separated points, it was possible to influence the function of a specific internal organ. These points were then systematically arranged on the basis of the related organ over which they had an influence. The series of points which had an effect on a particular organ were connected to form a channel. This is the basis of acupuncture theory.

Chi or the energy of life literally means breath and is the exact equivalent to the term Prana in Indian Yoga .Chi is the bionic energy that fuels living organisms like electricity to a computer.

Needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain. Some of these substances are 50 to 100 times more potent for pain relief than many prescription drugs. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing.

One of the subjective effects may be slight pain at the site of needling, but with the use of a proper technique by a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL ACUPUNCTURIST, this is usually negligible.

In Chinese, the deqi which the patient feels is a combination of numbness, heaviness, slight soreness and distension

As regards objective effects produced by needling six different effects may be recognized One of the best known is the ANALGESIC - PAIN RELIEVING effect, which is achieved by raising the pain threshold. This is the physiological basis. Acupunture therapy relieves pain of arthritis, toothache, headache, backache and other forms of similar painful disorders.

SEDATION needling certain specific acupunture points results in sedation and some people may even fall asleep during treatment but wake up refreshed. This effect is utilized in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety states, addictions mental disorders and behavioral problems.

HOMEOSTATIC OR REGULTORY effect, which means adjustment of the internal environment of the body towards a state of normal balance.

IMMUNE ENHANCING action whereby body resistance to a disease is strengthened. This has been shown to be an increase in the white corpuscles, antibodies, and gamma globulins. Acupuncture is therefore very useful in combating infection. Where antibiotics may have to be used the need for prolonged antibiotics can be reduced by the concurrent use of acupunture.

PSYCHOLOGICAL effect, which is calming, and tranquilizing action apart from mere sedation.This may account for its effectiveness in certain mental disorders.

MOTOR RECOVERY in the patient who has become paralyzed from some cause or the other.

In order to obtain the best results the practitioner must pay careful attention to the following points

USE OF GOOD QUALITY AND SINGLE USE DISPOSABLE NEEDLES TO AVOID AIDS AND HEPATITIS
THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN OBTAINING A SATISFACTORY RESULT IS GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE PATIENTS.

The commonest disorders seen in acupuncture are of soft tissues, muscles, bones and joints .It includes muscular and ligamentous sprains and strains, different types of arthritis, progressive degenerative diseases of spine giving rise to pain and limitation of movement. Mild cases may be relieved within a short period time but the management of chronic cases often unsatisfactory with heat, exercise, massage, manipulation and other methods of physical medicine. Treatment with prolonged drug therapy may be equally unsatisfactory due to frequent side effects.

However one frequently finds patients who have been continuously on drugs for many years due to want of a better alternative.

On the other hand it has been established now that acupuncture is effective to a very large extent in managing these disorders.