Acupuncture is a medical treatment which originated in China several thousands of years ago which can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions by encouraging the patient s body to heal and repair itself if it is able to do so.
Acupuncture stimulates the fine network of nerves running both in the skin and the deeper tissues.
The impulses from these stimulated nerves then pass to both the spinal cord and the brain, blocking pain and altering the nervous systems control of other bodily organs such as the digestive, urinary and reproductive organs. Furthermore various chemicals produced in the brain and spinal cord are increased in amount. These chemicals have a variety of properties but are both natural painkillers and anti-inflammatory and healing agents. These chemicals then travel via nerves to the areas stimulated, i.e. a painful knee, where they set about trying to reduce pain and heal the painful joint.