It's natural, nontraditional and minimally invasive. It uses tiny pains with the goal to lessen, treat and even cure big pains.

But perhaps the most important element to know about acupuncture is that it aims to unlock the sometimes-underestimated strength of the body's own healing powers.

"The body itself is pretty incredible. The body is very smart," said Dr. Ashley LeClair, a Pennsylvania licensed acupuncturist who operates Lititz Acupuncture, 1555 Highlands Drive, Suite 103, Lititz, with her husband, Dr. John Marino. "We meet the patient where they are to help them feel better when they walk out of here."

The physical act of acupuncture involves inserting between four and 12 thin needles - about three hairs in diameter - into a relaxed patient in an inclined position. Sometimes the needles are inserted into the areas being treated, and other times they are inserted in different parts of the body.

The regularity and frequency of the treatments are important. LeClair's acupuncture sessions last between 45 minutes and an hour and can be administered once a week for periods of four to 12 weeks.

"After a long intake, conversation and a pattern diagnosis, we choose the points and have the patient in a position where they're comfortable," said LeClair. "We want you to relax as best you can. We have to create points that help that purpose in that moment. It's detailed to every individual. The pain doesn't last; once the needle is placed, it doesn't hurt."

"Pain isn't our enemy; it's your friend," said LeClair. "It's a signal from the body, 'Hey, something's off.' You have to befriend it to observe it."

Acupuncture is used to treat a wide assortment of ailments, everything from chronic back pain, chronic neck pain and chronic shoulder pain to Lyme disease, nausea and arthritis and from stress, insomnia and headaches to inflammation, anxiety and depression. Acupuncture can also be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment.

"In general, acupuncture is used for pain," said LeClair, a resident of East Petersburg. "The pain can be external, the pain can be from trauma or the pain can be from the overuse of muscles. It's not just one type of ailment; it's anything and everything. We don't treat cancer, but we help people get through cancer."

"I have seen people walk out and be totally different," continued LeClair. "I have seen patients trying to figure out what's going on and using acupuncture. I've used acupuncture on patients for fertility. (Our bodies are) constantly changing and growing older."

LeClair became a licensed acupuncturist in 2022 after experiencing the benefits of acupuncture firsthand.

"I broke my jaw, and it went undiagnosed," LeClair said. "Nothing was helping, so I tried acupuncture. It didn't fix me, but it relieved the pain. The reason I went for my degree is because of how much acupuncture helped me. I wanted to help, and it put me in tune with my body."

Acupuncture is a form of medicine rooted in Asian culture and dating back nearly 2,500 years. But relatively speaking, acupuncture is a fairly recent medical development in the United States, having been informally introduced here in the early 1970s.

"I would encourage people to ask more questions or try it out," LeClair said.