What is the purpose of Text 1? Explain how you know this. WESTFIELD CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Information Sheet 1 Acupuncture What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is an ancient form of healing that can be traced back over 2500 years and has long been the dominant form of healthcare in many Eastern cultures, such as China. According to Chinese medicine theory, qi (a form of vital energy) circulates throughout every living organism in channels called meridians and each meridian is connected to muscles, nerves, vessels and specific internal organs and organ systems. In a healthy body, qi is abundant and flows smoothly but disease or illness causes an imbalance or blockage of these channels. By stimulating specific points along the meridians with fine needles, this flow of energy is redirected to rebalance qi and relieve tension, stress and pain. Acupuncture is a safe, effective and chemical-free way to promote the body’s natural self-healing abilities. Acupuncture encourages relaxation How does Acupuncture work? Acupuncture is a holistic health therapy which focuses on the root cause of the disease. It stimulates the body to produce its own natural opioids (which reduce pain and encourage relaxation) promoting self-healing. Inflammation is the basis of many modern diseases and studies have revealed the anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture. Acupuncture regulates heart rate and blood flow and has an antiarrhythmic effect. Also, the stimulation of particular acupuncture points assists the treatment of hypertension. What does Acupuncture treat? Acupuncture can benefit a range of medical disorders, for example migraine, arthritis, insomnia, obesity, anxiety and heart disease. Contact Westfield Centre for more information or to book a consultation