Acupuncture describes a variety of procedures that stimulate specific points on the body with a range of techniques. The most common of these procedures is the form of alternative medicine that uses the insertion and movement of needles to treat a variety of illnesses. The needles are small and metallic and can be manipulated by hand or stimulated using small amounts of electric current.

Acupuncture is a key element of Eastern medicine (also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)). The philosophy behind TCM is that the body is healthy when two forces known as yin and yang are in balance. The core belief is that any imbalance between the two causes illness to manifest because the flow of Qi (the life force that is thought to regulate mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health) is interrupted. The manipulation of needles on various parts of the body helps to balance yin and yang, thereby treating the client.

The History of Acupuncture
One explanation for the origin of Acupuncture is that soldiers who were wounded with arrows were later found to be cured of other conditions. It is believed to have originated in China, though the precise origins are unknown. Acupuncture in its modern form is found in historical texts as early as the 2^nd century BCE. Hieroglyphs have been found as early as 1600 BCE, around the time of the Shang Dynasty that suggest that forms of acupuncture were being used with stone and bone needles.

It was also during the 2^nd century BCE that the metal needles replaced stone and bone needles. During this time, acupuncture also replaced the practice of using sharp stones to open abscesses as the primary form of treatment.

As new techniques for acupuncture developed, practitioners made their way from China to Japan, Vietnam and Korea. In the 16^th century, Portuguese missionaries stationed in China reported the practice of acupuncture to westerners. Europeans also caught on to the practice and texts on acupuncture were produced by a Dutch physician who visited Japan for two years. For some time, acupuncture was thought to be a lost art. It was associated with alchemy and other mysticisms that were believed to have little value to society. Fortunately, for modern society, the practice regained its prestige and made its way to the United States and is now taught world-wide in schools of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is now used to treat a variety of mental and physical conditions.

Some Conditions Treated with Acupuncture

• Respiratory conditions - Snoring, asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis, coughs, influenza and the common cold
• Emotional problems - Depression, insomnia, fatigue, stress and anxiety
• Musculoskeletal disorders - Arthritis, sprains, tendonitis, sciatica, joint pain, strains and fibromyalgia
• Neurological problems - Migraines, stroke recovery, dizziness, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease
• Cardiovascular Problems - High blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Dermatological problems - Skin dryness, acne, varicose veins, hives and eczema
• Dietary concerns - Weight loss
• Addictions - Food, drug, tobacco and alcohol addictions
• General Wellness - Increasing energy, improving quality of sleep, helping with focus and concentrate, boosting the immune system, improve memory and concentration

What To Expect From Acupuncture Visits
The first visit - The practitioner should ask you about your overall health and wellness. This will include questions on lifestyle, habits and behaviors that might contribute to or worsen conditions so that treatment can be tailored to the individual needs of the patient. The practitioner will need to be aware of all exiting medical conditions and any medications the client takes. After a complete assessment, the practitioner will determine a course of treatment that can be started right after the consultation.

Clients are asked to lie on a comfortable table with their clothing on. The needles (which are metallic and extremely thin) are then inserted at particular points along meridians (channels in the body throughout which qi is thought to flow) to bring balance to the forces of yin and yang in the affected area. Electrical stimulation can be applied once the needles are inserted.

Clients report minimal pain (a small pinch or sting) or no pain at all while undergoing treatment. The experience is different for everyone, but most report feelings of deep relaxation and calm and a release of stressful feelings, emotions. This is also accompanied by pain relief in patients with aches of various kinds.

Patients are left to relax with the needles inserted for anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour. The practitioner will then return and remove the needles and allow the client to rest for a few more moments before their session is complete.

Acupuncture in Hawaii
The Hawaiian islands are home to the Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii. Students from around the world come to Hawaii to benefit from the knowledge of experienced practitioners and learn the art of healing with acupuncture. Patients and clients also benefit from the holistic healing and teaching environment and come from around the world to receive treatments.

Some persons who are considering acupuncture in Hawaii may be put off by the thought of the clinical practice in a teaching environment. Fortunately, there are a number of licensed practitioners to choose from who operate in day spas, hotels and private practices. Islanders and visitors to Hawaii have the option of choosing a practitioner who operates in an environment where they feel most relaxed. This can range from a medi spa environment, where added spa treatments such as a open air massage or hot stone treatment can be scheduled prior to an acupuncture appointment, to those located within doctors' offices as a form of complimentary treatment to Western medicine.

Hawaii is the ideal setting to try an acupuncture treatment for the first time. Whether it is for an existing medical condition or to simply improve feelings of well being, acupuncture is a part of the Hawaiian culture of a holistic approach to life, health, medicine and relaxation.

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