Acupucture

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Acupuncture

Running Head: Acupuncture

History of Acupuncture

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Acupuncture

The origins of acupuncture date back to the time when history was not even recorded. The

beliefs and main themes of acupuncture can be traced back to the Taoist customs that were

practiced around 8000 years ago. The Chinese natives of that time practiced meditation and

observed the course of energy inside and outside the body. (Suvow, n.d.)

The Chinese prehistoric era can be split into 2 periods: Old Stone Age that dates to 10,000

years) and New Stone Age that dates to 4000-10,000 years. In the Old Stone Age, people created

knives from stone. These knives were also used for medical purposes. It was in the New Stone Age

that these stones were used to make delicate needles. These needles were later used as apparatus

for curative purposes. Bian Stone was the name that was given to these needles. The word Bian

Stone means employment of pointed stones for the treatment of ailments. Numerous such needles

were discovered by archaeologists later in China. It is believed that these needles belong to the

New Stone Age. (Suvow, n.d.)

Nei Jing was the first book on Chinese Medicine, which was composed sometime around

305-204 B.C. This book comprises of two sections. The first section, Su Wen (Plain Questions),

is an introduction to medicine. The second section Ling Shu (Miraculous Pivot,Spiritual Axis)

focuses on acupuncture. It includes the nine kinds of needles, details about points of acupuncture,

methods of using needles, etc. Hieroglyphs of the era of Shang Dynasty depicted proof of

Acupuncture. Bronze needles were excavated from ruins, but the bian stones remained the main

form of needle. (Suvow, n.d.)

It is also believed that Acupuncture first arose as a system of therapy in the Chou Dynasty

of Chinese history which witnessed the use of small needles of precise point on the human body

from the philosophical concepts of human beings and its kinship to the natural environment. The

Warring States era, which ran from 480 BC to 221 BC, was especially significant for the

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integration of two main theoretical beliefs into the typical Chinese culture. These two beliefs were

Daoism and Confucianism. Acupuncture, as a means of treating internal disease with external

techniques, evolved as a necessary and important adjunct to the beliefs of Confucianism. (History

of Acupuncture, 2004)

It is usually believed that acupuncture was first practiced in China and has numerous

literature that dates back to approximately 200 BCE. (White, Ernst, 1999) Moreover, acupuncture

has been used in numerous nations for hundreds of years. Specifically speaking, it has been

practiced for more than 1450 years by the Japanese, 1500 years by the Koreans, and 2000 years by

the Vietnamese. Afterwards, it came into the European countries some 300 years back, and in

North American localities around 150 years back. In the preceding 30 years, the practice of

acupuncture has become common in most of the nations all over the globe. (White, Ernst, 1999)

The earliest major documents, the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, Huang Di Nei Jing Ling

Shu (circa 200 BC) and the Nan Jing (circa 100 AD), are revered as the primary sources of

acupuncture. (White, Ernst, 1999) Many writers have analyzed these literatures for hundreds of

years. Even today, the authenticity of countless concepts in contemporary practice is determined by

using suitable portions from these historical literatures. (White, Ernst, 1999)

References

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History of Acupuncture (2004, May 26)

Retrieved, July 13, 2007

http://www.science.uts.edu.au/centres/tcm/acupuncture.html

Suvow, Scott (n.d.) History of Acupuncture in China

Retrieved, July 13, 2007http://www.acupuncturecare.com/acupunct.htm

White, Adrian, Ernst, Edzard (1999) Acupuncture: A Scientific Appraisal. pg. 11-12.Elsevier Health Sciences

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http://www.science.uts.edu.au/centres/tcm/acupuncture.htmlhttp://www.acupuncturecare.com/acupunct.htmhttp://www.science.uts.edu.au/centres/tcm/acupuncture.htmlhttp://www.acupuncturecare.com/acupunct.htm

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