Acupuncture treats the body as a whole rather than focusing on individual symptoms. It works by stimulating the body to heal itself, using its own resources. When hair-thin, sterile needles are inserted into your skin by one of our licensed acupuncturists, your nervous system registers this as a micro-injury. This triggers the brain to release chemicals called endorphins. Although these are produced naturally by the body, they work in a similar way to opiate medication. They have the effect of relieving pain and produce a feeling of calm and well-being. This micro-injury also acts as a diversion for the brain, distracting it from pain signals elsewhere in the body..