What Is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a healing art that may have originated in ancient China. Documents describing the practice date back to the first century BCE, while some believe archaeological evidence points to a much earlier origin: possibly as early as 8, 000 years ago. The medical theory of acupuncture centers on the concept of qi energy (pronounced “chee”). Qi is said to flow through the body’s energy pathways, known as meridians. Meridians match certain organs or groups of organs. Unlike Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine holds that disease is caused by an imbalance of this energy’s flow through the meridians. In an attempt to unblock or otherwise redirect the flow of energy, acupuncturists shallowly insert very thin needles into specific points in the skin tissue. These points are called acupoints. There are different ways of counting the acupoints, but most systems catalog about 350-400 such points. Medical acupuncture is often used for pain relief, among other treatments, and is now covered by many insurance policies. We want to help you make the best possible choices regarding the health of yourself and your family. To that end, read on to discover how acupuncture is thought to work, the common ailments acupuncturists seek to relieve, certain dangers to be avoided, how to best choose an acupuncturist, and much more.