Oriental Medicine includes the practice of acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and other techniques. Modern professional acupuncture, rooted in Chinese medical practice, dates back some 3000 years. Based on the principles of Chinese Medicine, the human body is not merely a combination of mechanical and chemical parts, but an energetic, integrated system whose health depends on keeping all its elements in balance. Oriental Medical theory explains that human beings have a natural flow of energy through the body, and that pain and disease are caused by an imbalance, deficiency or blockage of this energy, called Qi. Qi circulates in the body along channels called meridians. An acupuncturist analyzes the individual client’s energy patterns and uses needles and herbs to bring them into harmony. The well-balanced, freely circulating energy creates an environment in which the body, mind and spirit can heal itself.