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Acupuncture
This Century
As dynasty succeeded
dynasty, many more important acupuncture works were published. During
the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), there was a decrease in the practice
of acupuncture and herbalism, due mainly to the increasing influence
of Western ideas in China.
In 1822 a government
decree actually banned the practice of acupuncture from the Imperial
Medical College, and in 1929 the Kuomintang government tried to ban
traditional chinese medicine as a whole. However, there were so many
protests from traditional doctors, the attempt to ban the practices
failed.
Since the second
World War, there has been a significant resurgence of acupuncture in
China, with an appreciation of its complementary role to Western medicine.
One of the most
important factors in the promotion of acupuncture in the West today
began in 1971, when a famous American commentator named James Reston
was visiting Peking with his wife. He was stricken with an acute appendicitis
attack and required emergency surgery. Two days later, suffering from
post operative abdominal pain, he was treated using acupuncture and
moxibustion at points near the knees and elbows.
Surprised by the
considerable level of relief achieved, the Restons travelled throughout
China following his recovery, visiting hospitals and communes where
acupuncture was being used for a wide variety of conditions. Upon their
return to the United States, their eye witness accounts caused a considerable
stir, and focused tremendous public and professional attention on acupuncture.
He later wrote, "I have seen the past, and it works".
As a result, greater
numbers of Westerners have begun to study the art of acupuncture, and
professional associations and schools have been established all over
the world.
After thousands
of years of history and practice, we are only now beginning to recognize
the true medical and therapeutic value of acupuncture.
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