The intent of acupuncture is to stimulate the body, release energy blocks, and reestablish normal equilibrium, thereby facilitating the body's natural ability to heal itself. In the last 40 years, Chinese and Western studies have suggested that the insertion of needles at acupuncture points helps release some chemical neurotransmitters in the body, including endorphins. Endorphins are the body's own extremely powerful, natural painkillers which relieve pain and bring about a sense of well being. Acupuncture needles are solid, usually made of stainless steel, and are extremely flexible. The small diameter and contoured shape of the acupuncture needle allows it to be inserted easily and painlessly a few millimeters into the skin.
Acupuncture affects people differently, leaving some energized while others feel relaxed.
Acupuncture needles can also be stimulated with pressure, heat, friction or electromagnetic impulses to further activate a person's qi. Since then there has been an increasing public awareness and demand for complementary medicine, including acupuncture and Oriental medicine. With the Baby Boomer generation currently being the largest population group in the U.S., the need for complementary health care and practitioners is on the rise. Currently, over 4,000 students are enrolled in over 40 acupuncture and Oriental medical colleges in the United States. While in 1997 there were 385.9 million visits to mainstream primary care physicians, there were a whopping 628.8 million visits to complementary medicine practitioners.