The ancient Chinese art of acupuncture dates back to the stone age. Legend has it that around 3000 BC, Chinese soldiers were noticing that after being pierced with arrows, they experienced relief from diseases they had for a long time. From this, the system of medicine known as acupuncture evolved.
In early days, stone chips were used to do the piercing, although mainly needles are now used. At one time it was thought that different metals had different effects, but it is now known that it's not the case. The answer lies more in the way in which the needles are used. Today, they are made of stainless steel, and in our society which is increasingly aware of the dangers of foreign bacteria and viruses, most are of the disposable variety.
Many practitioners still refer to the first book about acupuncture which was written around 200 BC. Although most commonly practiced in the Far East and China, acupuncture is becoming more understood and used in the western world.
The Theory of Acupuncture
Acupuncture works on the theory or principle that "in all diseases, be they mental or physical, there are tender areas at certain points on the body which disappear when the disease is cured. These are called acupuncture points."1
There are some 1000 acupuncture points on the human body. This tender area on the patient's body might be a little swollen or discolored. The pain in one area might indicate a problem in another area altogether, but the two points share the same nerve supply. An acupuncturist will use these surface areas as the areas for treatment, not only for the diagnosis.
The acupuncture points have been classified into 12 main groups whose points are joined by an imaginary line called a meridian. There are two more meridians; one is central on the front, and the other is central on the back. Research in the west is proving that the brain produces pain relieving substances called endorphins in response to acupuncture. Another unknown mechanism must also be at work, since relief can be instantaneous. It is difficult to explain why acupuncture works or why sometimes it does not.
The Chinese refer to body energy as "chi," believing that it circulates in the body's meridians 25 times a day and 25 times a night. The health of the body is centered around its yin (solid) and yang (hollow) factors. All of the organs have an interplay with each other, and should not be treated alone because of this.
Chinese medicine also links the weather and the five main elements (wood, water, fire, metal, and earth) to health and disease. Another integral part of acupuncture is pulse diagnosis which can explain past illnesses as well as predict future ones.
The Practice of Acupuncture
The only skill in acupuncture is knowing where to stimulate the skin to achieve the desired result. There are a variety of methods, from Shiatsu massage which uses the fingertips to electrical stimuli such as vibrators. Needle stimulation is the most effective.
When the acupuncture point has been located, the needle is inserted, keeping in mind the depth to which it is inserted, the sharpness of the needle, the length of time it is left in place, the bore of the needle, and the number of times the treatment takes place. Usually they are left in from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Some believe that better results are achieved by electrically vibrating the needle (such as in the spa in Cuba), but this is still open to debate. The patient should experience no pain at all during the procedure.
The ailments which are best aided by acupuncture are headaches, lung disease, digestive and nervous problems, and rheumatic conditions. It is a pain reliever and is used as an analgesic during operations. Patients are always completely conscious when undergoing these painkilling techniques.
