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Acupuncture: What Is It?

Summary & Participants

For some, "being on pins and needles'' describes a nervous or excited state. For others, pins and needles are used to balance the flow of energy through the body. Acupuncture is growing in popularity throughout the West. But what is it all about?

Medically Reviewed On: July 09, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Welcome to our webcast. I'm David Folk Thomas. You've heard the expression "being on pins and needles." Well, what about having pins and needles on you? That's right, we're talking about acupuncture today, and as you may know, that's the practice of sticking tiny little needles into the body. We're going to find out what it's all about. Joining me, two experts on the subject. To my left is Dr. Ben Kligler. He's the medical director of the New Beth Israel Center for Health and Healing in New York City. Sitting next to Dr. Kligler is William Kaplinidis. He is a licensed acupuncturist and department head of Allied Arts at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine here in New York City. Thanks to both of you for joining us today.

Dr. Kligler, I'll start with you. What is acupuncture?

BENJAMIN KLIGLER, MD: Acupuncture is an art or a science that was developed in China over the last several thousand years and has now become quite popular in the West, as well, that is based on the use of needles inserted into the body as a means of unblocking or harmonizing the flow of chi, or energy, in the body, which forms the basis for both good health and ill health.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: William, add to what Dr. Kligler said. What's happening when you're getting needles stuck into you? What's this chi thing all about?

WILLIAM KAPLINIDIS: There are a few different things going on. It is a science and an art. The "chi thing" is energy in your body, or life force, and there are different kinds of chi in the body, but the idea is that the needles are put in specific points to affect different systems in the body. For example, the Chinese look at the body a little bit differently than Western doctors. Where a Western doctor may look at the physiology of how the heart works, the Chinese give different jobs or functions to each of the organs. So there are jobs that they do in relation to each other, so the needles will help give the body signals to help the organs do their jobs better and in more harmony to bring you back to balance.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Does everybody have chi, and what form is that? Is it flowing through you?

BENJAMIN KLIGLER, MD: Everybody has it. If you don't have it, you're dead, for starters.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Can you measure it? Can you put it under a microscope?

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