Elevator Pitch on How Acupuncture Works

There is nothing that I dread more than someone asking "so how does acupuncture work". I immediately start sweating as I try to find the best way to condense over 2,000 years of knowledge into a 2 minute summary that someone with no prior knowledge could understand.



There is always an old Chinese quote that stands out to me for its sheer elegance and simplicity:

“If there is free flow, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free flow” (不通這痛,痛則不通)

This “free flow” is referring to blood but also the concept of 'Qi' (氣) which is usually translated as things like breath or energy. It's the motive force behind all movement, physiological processes and is the driver of change.

In Chinese Medicine, health is often defined as a harmonious flow of qi around our body rather than merely just the absence of disease. Hence, when we things are not free flowing we experience pain. Blockages can be caused by lifestyle factors, significant events or traumas, our emotions, and lots more. The lack of free flow is seen in many different ways which range from muscular pain, internal conditions like a digestive concern or chronic headaches, through to difficult experiences in fertility, and much more.

In a simple way, acupuncture works by encouraging the free flow of blood and qi around our body to both prevent and cure illness. It’s a non-invasive, non-painful and side-effect free intervention that can help with a huge range of health concerns.