Acupuncture, he said, predates Western medicine by thousands of years. Recorded history goes back 4,700 years in China to the Huang Di Nei Jing, which translates as the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. Dr. Ly said this is the oldest medical textbook in the world. The author, Shen Hung, is called the father of Chinese medicine. He discussed and documented theories about the heart, pulse and circulatory system thousands of years before European medicine began to develop.
Acupuncture attempts to bring the body into balance, to bring harmony.
It's more than needles. We also use herbs and teach patients about diet, exercise, breathing and meditation. When he does use acupuncture, Dr. Ly inserts fine needles at various points of the body, depending on what result the patient needs. Heat also may be used, along with a slight electrical current. Patients are taught acupressure techniques they can use at home.