What is acupuncture

Ask just about anyone, and they can tell you that acupuncture is the insertion of needles into certain areas of the body to obtain a desired physiologic response.

The insertion of these fine filament needles is relatively painless in most situations, especially when administered by a skilled practitioner. Treatment results in a disruption of normal physiology, which causes the body to activate its “emergency response system.”

You can think of it as a “reset” — or “reboot” — of the patient’s physiology.

If you really want a deep dive into how acupuncture works, Mike recommends you read “The Dao of Chinese Medicine: Understanding an Ancient Healing Art” by Donald E. Kendall.

Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services regulates acupuncture to ensure safety and proper training. Not everyone who uses needles as described above can list themselves an acupuncturist or claim the designation Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.).