Acupuncture & Balance: More Than Just Needles

A question I often hear as an acupuncturist is:
“How does acupuncture help the body?”

There are many ways to answer this. One explanation focuses on energy, or Qi, which flows through the body and influences all physical, emotional, and mental functions. Another emphasizes how disease often results from imbalances caused by lifestyle, diet, and emotions.

But no matter which lens you use to understand acupuncture, it always comes back to one key concept: Balance.

The Foundation of Balance in Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine, the concept of yin and yang—opposing forces that must remain in harmony—is at the heart of diagnosis and treatment. Whether it’s addressing physical symptoms or emotional stress, the goal is to restore a dynamic balance unique to each individual.

But balance doesn’t stop in the treatment room. Finding balance in life is equally essential to long-term wellness.

Letting Go of Perfection, Finding Grace

Once we embrace balance as a goal, something powerful happens:
We can finally release the struggle for perfection.

Perfection is a myth—an idea that creates tension, stress, and sometimes even illness. I see this in the questions patients ask every day:

• “What diet is best?”
• “Am I drinking enough water?”
• “Which supplements should I be taking?”

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each person has their own unique state of balance—and that balance shifts constantly depending on life circumstances.

Balance is Dynamic—It Changes as You Change

Just when you think you’ve figured it all out—life shifts.
Stress increases, seasons change, we grow older, relationships evolve.

It’s often hard to notice how much we’ve changed until something feels off. That’s where mindfulness and introspection come in. They help us reassess, realign, and adapt to our current needs.

Questions to Help You Find Your Balance

Here are a few questions you can reflect on to help check in with your personal state of balance:

1. Does this make me feel good?
   Can I live peacefully this way? Can I do what I want—or is this holding me back?
2. What am I giving up to achieve this goal?
   Is my work fulfilling? Am I growing as a human? Is this meaningful to me?
3. Where is the balance to this task or choice?
   For example:
   • If I run long distances, do I also make time to stretch, rest, and strength train?
   • Can I enjoy dessert at a party without guilt, or eat the pasta I usually avoid without anxiety?

Balance Is Not a Destination—It’s a Practice

Balance isn’t something you find once and keep forever.
It’s a continuous, compassionate practice of tuning in, letting go, and adjusting as life unfolds.

And maybe that’s where the true healing happens.