Acupuncture: Ancient Art of Healing

Acupuncture can be described as the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at specific ‘pressure points’ in order to influence the functioning of the body. Presently, acupuncture enjoys what may be its greatest popularity to date.  Athletes and celebrities all over the world are using this natural, drug-free, holistic treatment to restore health and well-being, treat pain and diseases and reduce stress. In February of 2007, Oprah Winfrey received acupuncture on her show.

Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and can perhaps be traced as far back as the Stone Age. Stone acupuncture needles which date back to 3,000 BCE have been found by archeologists in Inner Mongolia. Evidence also exists from the first millennium BCE, as well as archeological evidence identified with the period of the Han dynasty (202 BCE-220 AD). Forms of acupuncture called chimsul are also described in the literature of traditional Korean medicine.

Acupuncture came to the West in the early 1900’s. From France, it gradually spread to other European countries, being well known throughout Europe by the 1950’s. However, it wasn’t until Richard Nixon’s trip to China in the early 1970’s that America began to take notice. The first American clinic to open was the Acupuncture Center of Washington in 1972. Since then, over 40 states have legalized acupuncture, hundreds of new books have been published and there are currently about 14,000 licensed acupuncturists in America.

In order to understand the utility of acupuncture, we must first understand one of the most important concepts of Chinese medicine; that of natural balance and the relationship between the body, yin and yang, and qi (chee). It is theorized in Chinese medicine that the human body, and every other living thing, has a natural flow of qi throughout it. Qi travels the body along channels called “meridians,” Qi flows constantly up and down these pathways. When a proper balance of forces exists, the body has achieved a healthy circulation of the life force. However, when the flow of qi is insufficient, unbalanced, or interrupted, yin and yang become unbalanced and illness may occur. Therefore, good health entails the balance and harmony of all that is yin (dark) and all that is yang (light) within the body.

The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine is among the earliest surviving medical text, which is often cited as the definitive history of acupuncture. It was written by the “Yellow Emperor” in approximately 200 BCE. The Yellow Emperor said, “The principle of Yin and Yang is the foundation of the entire universe. It underlies everything in creation. It brings about the development of parenthood; it is the root and source of life and death, it is found with the temples of the gods. In order to treat and cure diseases, one must search for their origins.”
Traditionally there are 365 acupoints on the body. Most of them have a specific energetic function; some are the meeting of meridian pathways, others are junctions with an internal pathway of the meridian. Some points tend to move qi towards the interior of the body; others bring energy to the surface. The choice of acupuncture points varies depending upon the patient and the treatment, and relies on very careful diagnoses, which entails the observation of the body through looking, touching, smelling, and listening.

While it is unclear exactly how acupuncture works, western medicine proposes that acupuncture produces its effects by controlling the nervous system, thus stimulating the activity of pain-killing biochemicals such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. Studies have also shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by altering the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones; affecting parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions that regulate a person’s blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.

Clinical trials have shown acupuncture to be very effective in relieving pain, such as back pain, dental pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Research has also shown that acupuncture can improve the prospects of people with severe heart failure, as well as eliminating or treating the nausea and vomiting associated with radiation therapy of cancer patients.

Acupuncture is used to treat physical and mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress. It has also shown great promise in treating various symptoms associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Acupuncture can help women at all stages and ages of life, from treating the underlying causes of infertility, resolving menstrual disorders, PMS and fibroids, and dealing with menopause.

In addition, acupuncture is a treatment option for allergy, asthma and sinusitis, can help you stop smoking, and can even help to rejuvenate the face and combat the effects of aging.

A portion of the text from the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine is still very relevant today. It is in the form of a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and his physician. The first question: “Why in ancient times did people live long and productive lives, but nowadays they live only half as long and die in misery and despair?” The answer: “In ancient times people understood how to live according to nature, knowing their limits so as to avoid excesses and abuses.”