Acupuncture is an ancient system of treating illness by rebalancing the body energetically. Theoretically based on the observance of nature, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine view the body as a microsystem mirroring the larger macro systems of the earth. These systems operate at their best when there is balance and harmony.We do our best to find balance in our daily lives. Sometimes we feel “out of synch”, aware that something isn’t quite right in our lives and our bodies. That’s because our bodies are sending us messages. We call them symptoms. Like the "check engine" light in our cars, symptoms alert us to pay attention so that we can avoid bigger problems later on and so that we can find the underlying problem and correct it. Ignoring our body’s messages or attempting to simply “make them go away” is a bit like putting tape over the “check engine” light in our car. Our body (or our car) will increase the urgency of the symptoms in an attempt to get our attention. Continue to ignore it and eventually the consequences can be catastrophic.   For 3000 years acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used to prevent disease, treat illness and relieve pain. Acupuncture needles and Chinese herbs are the primary tools I use to help a patient return to balance. Some people say that an acupuncture treatment reminds your body what it feels like to be healthy. Most people experience treatments as simultaneously energizing and calming.