Traditional Five Element Acupuncture addresses imbalance within the microcosm of a human being through the assessment and treatment of Qi. Qi, often referred to as vital energy, follows patterns of generation and distribution universal to all human beings. These patterns are governed by the same natural laws evidenced through the ecology of our external world; water nurtures wood, wood fuels fire, the products of fire enrich soil and so on. These same basic patterns of generation are continually sustaining us. It is when these natural laws are disrupted that we experience discomfort and disease.

Acupuncture interacts with our qi to restore these vital patterns. Acupuncture points are locations along the pathways of qi where the qi pools on the surface. Super fine needles (about the width of two human hairs) and a warming herb applied topically in the form of moxa are used to effect change through these loci. Acupuncture is often combined with body work, dietary therapy, and exercise to restore the natural rhythm and order that normally supports a flourishing human being.