Acupuncture is mainstream health care in most of Asia, and has been practiced in large North American cities since the 1970s. In combination with herbal medicine and a healthy diet, it could be argued that acupuncture deserves some credit for the good health and longevity enjoyed by the people of China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Here in Canada, acupuncture is practiced at the St. John’s Rehab Hospital in Toronto, and at the Mount Sinai Hospital Wasser Pain Management Clinic. Medical acupuncture programs are offered to health professionals at the University of Alberta and at McMaster University in Hamilton. The provincial health plan in British Columbia offers partial coverage of acupuncture treatments - let's hope for the same here in Ontario!

Ok, so back to the question, HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

To understand acupuncture, we might need a refresher from biology class first! Our nervous system is the master computer co-ordinating every function of the body. It regulates how organs carry out their function; how cells breathe and eat; when hormones get secreted; how well we digest our food, and how we sleep, move and think! Nerves communicate via electrical signals from our senses, muscles and organs back to our brain, essentially giving it a constant status report. The brain, in turn, sends back signals that tell all body tissues what activities to change, maintain or stop all together.

Unfortunately, this incredible machine we call our mind/body is not perfect, and we get sick. Things go awry: skin inflammation may rage out of control for no apparent reason, acid gets secreted excessively in the stomach, there is recurrent or inexplicable migraine pain, the whole body is sluggish and fatigued, we catch frequent colds, and so on. At such times it seems the system is down and stuck in a repetitive pattern of illness and discomfort.

This is when acupuncture and herbs can be a huge help.

Inserting the thin, stainless steel needles of acupuncture at specific nerve junctions (the "acupuncture points") can reset and regulate the communication with the brain, assisting the body to heal itself.

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