Acupuncture involves the use of needles to access certain points on the body in order to move the body's Qi (pronounced chee), or vital energy so that proper balance is achieved. Qi, which is thought to exist in every being, streams through the body along pathways that are referred to as meridians. It is believed that when Qi flows freely through the meridians, proper health is maintained. Chinese medicine believes that imbalances occurs in the body when the flow of Qi is disrupted, and illness can occur when the body experiences such an imbalance in Qi.

With acupuncture needles, the acupuncturist restores the correct flow of blocked Qi using specific acupuncture points on the body. This acupuncture treatment can result in the patient experiencing a decrease in pain, relief of pain or the resolution of illness, and a generally relaxed state. Each patient is examined on an individual basis, which means that the exact placement of needles will vary for each patient and each acupuncture treatment