A Look At Chinese Acupuncture

Chinese Acupuncture dates back way over 5000 years easy in China. Chinese Acupuncture can be dated back to the 1st millennium B.C.E. in China. There are hieroglyphics dating back to 1000 BC that imply the use of acupuncture. There were stone probes found in prehistoric caves that archeologists are of the consensus are the first acupuncture instruments. Those probes were dated over 5000 years as well. It is believed that the stone probes and pointed rocks found were for treatment of ancient disease and involved some sort of bloodletting including some techniques similar to what we know as acupuncture. The archeological finds date back to the Han dynasty from 202 BC to 220 AD. It is believed that acupressure and massage came before the insertion of needles.

Chinese Acupuncture with the use of needles; along with the system of meridians dates back to 2000 years. In approximately 200 B.C.E. the Yellow Emperor?s Internal Medicine Classic called Huang Di Nei Jing laid down the basics of acupuncture theory, philosophy and principals. This text which dates back to 305-204 BC describes the use of acupuncture. This ancient text is the foundation for Chinese acupuncture today.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is created from the religion of Taoism (pronounced Daoism). Taoism looked to nature to seek an understanding of the human body and its functions. It looked at the elements, the seasons and growth of plants and compared them to the body and how energy flows in the body. Ancient Chinese Doctors started to compare disease with natural phenomena. Ex. A drought can lead to a fire and a cough can be a fire in the body leading to fever. Thus the concept of the elements, seasons and nature was correlated to the body parts and functions as well.

Chinese Acupuncture is performed by inserting needles into particular points in the body, and manipulating the needles upon insertion. Needle placement is based on the idea of the meridians and pressure points. Meridians are channels that interconnect allowing qi or vital energy to flow through the body. The twelve standard meridians can be found located on the arms and legs. There are also eight special meridians. As with the concept of negative and positive polarities called Yin and Yang, the meridians are divided up as Yin or Yang. The Yin meridians of the arm are Heart, Lungs, and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are Small intestines, Large Intestines and Triple Warmer. The Yin meridians of the leg are the kidney, spleen and Liver. The Yang meridians are the stomach, Bladder and Gallbladder. The 8 special meridians are those points along the body one says ouch to. In addition to the meridians are 400 acupuncture points along the various meridians. These are where the needles are inserted in the acupuncture points along the meridians.

In keeping with the Tao and its concept of nature and harmony when one is sick or has an ailment or condition one is in disharmony with ones body. The use of Chinese acupuncture is one type of treatment that brings the body back to harmony. Chinese acupuncture is used to alleviate the disharmony by opening the blockages that have come into being. These blockages don?t allow for qi to flow through out ones body. Qi has to flow for health to happen. Inserting the needles opens the blockages releasing the qi to flow again. Thus ones health is restored.

When getting a treatment the needles are inserted for approximately no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a session. Make sure the acupuncturist you visit is licensed. Conventional Medical Doctors are licensed. So are Traditional Chinese Acupuncturists. I would advise not to get treatment from an acupuncturist that is not licensed. Needles used by a non-experienced or non-licensed practitioner can cause some serious bodily damage.

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