Acupuncture has its roots deeply planted in China and did not become well known in the US until 1971. It is based on the belief that living beings have a vital energy, called "qi", that circulates through twelve invisible energy lines known as meridians on the body.

Acupuncturists insert needles into specified points along meridian lines to influence the restoration of balance to the flow of qi. There are over 1,000 acupuncture points on the body.

There are numerous theories about how acupuncture works. Some of them are: 1)acupuncture stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins 2)acupuncture influences the release of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain. 3)acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system 4)acupuncture stimulates circulation 5)acupuncture influences the electrical currents of the body