This is a technique that goes back to thousand years ago and is more known in the West. Acupuncture uses needles to normalize the flow of energy.

Acupuncture is one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), along with Chinese dietetics, Chinese pharmacology (medicinal herbs), Tui Na Massage and energy exercises (Qi Gong and Tai-chi).

Acupuncture is a holistic treatment based on energy. According to Eastern medical believes, it acts on the Qi (pronounce tchi) which flows through the body pathways (meridians). In this technique thin needles are inserted into the skin surface. These needles stimulate specific acupuncture points to regulate Qi, and also to regulate targeted physiological, organic and psychic functions.

In other word, it could be said that acupuncture strengthen the self-regulatory system and healing processes that normally would start when body is attacked (by a virus, stress, injury, etc.).

There are detailed diagrams of acupuncture points and meridians and their roles in restoring the patient's health and balance. Similar to massage, series of skilled and carefully placed movements come into play in order to harmonize or distribute the energy when it is deficient or accumulated in certain regions of the body.

Philippe Bruzzone, Geneva.