According to Traditional Chinese Medical theory, there is energy (called qi) that flows through our bodies along specific channels (called meridians). If this energy becomes blocked or becomes out of balance, a variety of physical symptoms will start to appear. These include headache, digestive problems, allergies, depression, musculoskeletal pain and more. Acupuncture works by affecting the flow of qi with very thin needles, which puts your body back into balance. In Western terms, the insertion of needles stimulates the nervous system, which in turn causes increased circulation, decreased inflammation, pain relief and immune system stimulation.