Acupuncture has been minimizing, eliminating and preventing symptoms and causes of disease for thousands of years.  It is thought by some that the use of acupuncture originated in parts of Africa thousands of years before the Chinese discovered it.  However, the reality today is that many people cringe when they so much as hear the word "acupuncture".  What a lot of people don't realize is that because the acupuncture needles are extremely thin and filiform (solid and thread-like), they are virtually painless.  And, for those who have an aversion to needles (no matter how thin), there are a variety of techniques used to stimulate the acupuncture points without the use of needles.  These techniques are non-invasive and can be just as effective as traditional acupuncture.

Among the many "needle-free" techniques are magneto-therapeutic balancing, moxibustion, and auricular therapy:

          Magneto-therapeutic Balancing, also known as Acu-magnets,  involves the strategic placement of tiny professional strength magnets (2500 to 9000 gauss) on a set of acupuncture points specifically chosen to eliminate imbalances in the individual.  This form of therapy is wonderful for children as well as adults.

          Moxibustion stimulates the acupuncture points with the lit end of a moxa stick.  No, it's not torture.  The moxa stick, which resembles a very large cigarette, is held about one thumb's width away from each acupuncture point.  The heat and smoke stimulate the points in a very soothing manner.  Moxibustion is not for everyone, however.  It is not advisable to use this form of therapy on young children because the heat may be too intense for them.  Due to the aroma produced by the burning artemisia vulgaris (mugwort herb), there may be those who choose to pass on this form of therapy.  It smells like marijuana.

        Auricular Therapy is a modified version of auricular (ear) acupuncture.

Tiny vaccaria seeds are adhered to the acupuncture points of the ear to affect all the areas of the body and mind.  These points can be stimulated for up to 5 consecutive days.  For young children, a laser is shone on the acupuncture points of the ear rather than using seeds or inserting needles into them.

These are only a few of the ways one can receive the benefits of acupuncture without needles.  For those who prefer the needles, there are a variety of options, as well.  Electro-acupuncture is great for pain syndromes and dental anesthesia.  Auricular (ear) acupuncture is one of the most powerful forms of holistic therapy.  Acupuncture needles may also be combined with other therapies such as moxa, acuspark and homeopathy.

Acupuncture and its adjunct therapies have helped many people over thousands of years to achieve and/or maintain good health without the use of drugs or surgery.  Stimulation of the acupuncture points balances the energy of the various organs and glands throughout the body in order to boost the immune system, provoke a healing response, and minimize or eliminate pain, disease, and mental/emotional disorders.  And now, because of the availability of "needle-free" techniques, there's no longer a need to cringe at the thought of acupuncture.