History of 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 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
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, 2007
http://www.acupuncturecare.com/acupunct.htm
White, Adrian, Ernst, Edzard (1999) Acupuncture: A Scientific Appraisal.
pg. 11-12.
Elsevier Health Sciences
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