Several thousand years ago, East Asian practitioners discovered that the body forms disharmonies as a result of the various physical and mental stresses of life. Oriental medical theory explains these disharmonies as an imbalance of opposing forces called yin and yang. This imbalance disrupts the movement of the body’s vital energy (qi) along the meridian pathways, which are channels through which the body’s energy is thought to flow. Acupuncture is the practice of using very fine, flexible, sterile needles placed in specific anatomical points. The various points on the body correlate to different meridians which have the ability to tap into the body’s own energy and restore the smooth flow of qi. Utilizing these points via acupuncture allows the body to achieve its own natural balance and promote the body’s ability to heal itself, thus relieving pain and strengthening the immune system.