Morgan Gaskin, Licensed Acupuncturist

I am often asked “what is acupuncture?” It’s more complicated of an answer than “sticking needles in people.” Acupuncture is, in my opinion, partly there in the name: accurately puncturing specific points on the body with hair-thin needles. But for what purpose?

Each of the points I use was discovered or evolved centuries ago through trial and error and discovery on the part of ancient Chinese doctors. The medicine has lasted so long because it’s effective. Most of the points are located along meridians or channels that can be drawn on the skin, up and down the arms and legs, the torso, the head, and out to the fingers and toes. There are 14 channels with their own points, ranging in number from the Heart channel with 9 points to the Urinary Bladder with 67. Each point has its own function and its own uses, often determined by its location on the body and the channel it’s on. Points can be combined to have more complex effects.

What am I trying to do when I choose points for your treatment? Broadly speaking, I hope to restore function to whatever is not functioning properly. This often means helping energy go to a place it’s lacking, or move through a place it is stuck, or spread away from a place that has too much. You might be able to imagine why this would lead me to use a point on your foot to treat your face.

There’s a lot more I can say about acupuncture, but if you’re curious, why not send an email to MGGaskinLAc@gmail.com with your questions? You are welcome to book a free 30 minute consultation with me to determine whether acupuncture might be helpful to you. Just beginning a conversation can be therapeutic, so don’t hesitate to reach out today!