At first glimpse, acupuncture appears strange, as its primary notoriety is the utilization of needles; placed in the skin at various locations to relieve pain or affect a body part. Early Chinese physicians discovered there is an energy network traversing just below the surface of the skin, which communicates, from the exterior to the internal organs and structures at over 1,000 'Acupoints' on the body. This energy works in harmony with the body's circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, genitourinary and all other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident. Stimulation of one or a combination of key 'Acupoints' on the body may restore harmony to the affected area. Historians have stated, "More people have benefited from acupuncture over the course of fifty centuries than the combined total of all other holing sciences, both ancient and modern."

How Does Acupuncture Work?
Far too often in the medical professions, a patient is told after extensive examination, "There is nothing wrong," It is all in your “head," or "Sorry, you'll have to learn to live with it." The examining doctor unable to find the cause of the problem has little else to tell the patient. Fortunately, many physicians are now referring their patients for an acupuncture evaluation as a last resort.

The human body's energy flow courses over twelve meridians or channels flowing through the body that are normally well balanced. Oriental Medical experts say that pain and disease are caused by either an imbalance or a blockage of the energy circulating in the body. Acupuncture restores the proper flow of energy, returning the body to good health.

Acupuncture is a principle, not a technique. The principle of acupuncture does not change, only the technique. Acupuncture's goal is to restore normalcy to the body's energy balance by utilizing a combination of Acupoints located on the twelve meridians. In an acupuncture treatment, thin sterile needles are inserted at specific points on the body. These points are carefully selected by the Licensed Acupuncturist according to the patient's problem. Each treatment is tailored to the individual's needs. The acupuncture treatment corrects the imbalances, removes the blockages of energy and restores health.

"Meridian" therapy is the accepted name employed by those who practice the principle of acupuncture without the use of a penetrating needle. Even though needles are perhaps the highest form of acupuncture, the non-piercing methods run a very close second and in some cases, equal response to the needle.

Dr. Pisarek at Advanced Healthcare Inc., like many other physicians certified in Acupuncture and licensed Acupuncturists, are employing electronic and laser stimulation to the Acupoint with equal effectiveness as the needle. Both of these procedures are painless and are quickly becoming standard worldwide. Laser, or more recently red light-emitting diode, has received considerable attention internationally and is being used in some of the most noticeable institutes in the People's Republic of China, as well as the majority of the Eastern bloc nations, Europe, Soviet Union, and America.

Is Treatment Painful?
One would assume inserting a needle into the skin would he painful since most of us can relate to being stuck with a pin or having a hypodermic injection. However, three to four acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle. Because of the extreme slenderness of the needle, most people compare the sensations to less than a mosquito bite. Phenomena referred to as "TEHCHI" occurs when the energy is contacted. This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate heaviness or tingling.

At Advanced Healthcare Inc., we prefer the use of Laser photo-biostimulation (low-level laser therapy - LLLT) over needle insertion as the session times are shorter, results are accelerated, painless and non-invasive with laser light energy. The sensation felt with the laser acupuncture probe instrument is basically that of the pressure of the probe against the skin over the Acupoint, with possibly a slight warming and/or a mild tingling being perceived.