Although only recently becoming popular in the western world, acupuncture has been in use in China for between five to seven thousand years. Throughout the centuries, acupuncture has been proven to successfully treat pain and dysfunction in the body. Chinese physicians discovered that there is an energy meridian system which runs through the body just under the skin, communicating to the body’s internal systems (nervous system, digestive system, etc.). When any of these energy systems become weakened or unbalanced, symptoms appear on certain points of the body pertaining to the system which is weakened. When this occurs, stimulation is needed to the corresponding acupuncture point or combination of points to restore balance to the energy meridian system.

There are over 1000 acupuncture points, or “Acupoints,” which are linked to internal organs and structures within the body. These may be stimulated either with a needle, as with the common perception, or with any of a number of methods. Common misconceptions with acupuncture are that it is a technique used on patients, but it is much more. Various techniques can be used to stimulate an Acupoint, such as laser therapy, massage, and even electronic stimulation. When Acupoints are stimulated without the use of a traditional needle, it is called meridian therapy.

Another technique within meridian therapy is known as color puncture. Color puncture consists of focusing a colored light on these Acupoints to balance these same meridians, and thus facilitating powerful impulses in the body. This technique is carried out by using a hand held light with interchangeable glass rods which emit different colors of light, representing different frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum. These different frequencies communicate different energetic information to the various Acupoints they are used on. Typical treatments consist of a sequence of points with specific colors to be completed in a certain order, and last only for a few moments.

Whether a needle is used or a laser, what remains constant is how acupuncture works. There are twelve meridians in the body, which energy flows over when they are balanced. When one of these meridians becomes unbalanced, the energy flow is disrupted and symptoms occur. Acupuncture works by balancing these meridians and their energy flows using a combination of Acupoints. Research is behind the results when it comes to Acupuncture, but more is being conducted to reveal the science of how this amazing principle works.