In Chinese Medicine, pain is considered a blockage of Qi, the vital life force within us. When Qi is blocked, the body is not nourished and people experience pain. This is your body telling you to stop what you are doing seek help! Acupuncture is used to open up channels (also called meridians) in the body and support the free flow of Qi. In some cases, herbs are used to deal with various imbalances in the body, from inflammation to sprains and strains.