Chinese acupuncturists divide the human body into 12 primary channels, or meridians, through which eight vessels circulate Qi to maintain emotional and physical balance. The vessels absorb excess Qi from the meridians when they are full and replenish them with Qi when they are deficient. The channel corresponding to the Yang organ is often used to treat the disorder in its related Yin organ. For example, if someone had a disease in their lungs, which are Yin organs, an acupuncturist would treat the large intestine, its complementary Yang organ. If the Qi is blocked in the channels are not permitted to flow freely throughout the body, disease will result.
Many people still prefer taking a pill to getting pricked by a needle.
Acupuncture has had a difficult time gaining respect in the American medical community. In fact, the practice was outlawed in many states until the 1970s. Public awareness and use of acupuncture increased in the United States following President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 and The New York Times reporter James Reston's account of how physicians in Beijing eased his post-surgery abdominal pain with needles. In 1975, the state of New York began licensing for acupuncture, but it wasn't until 1990, when a state acupuncture board was established, that the practice began gaining momentum. In 1990, there were only 200 licensed acupuncturists in New York State.