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An
Ancient Art
Acupuncture originated
in China, and dates back to the Neolithic Era (c. 2,500 BC) when stone
needles were used in place of today's finely manufactured ones. Chinese
medicine, which incorporates acupuncture into its many treatments,
is therefore considered to be the oldest and most widely used system
of medicine in our history.
The Nei Jing,
also called The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine
is the oldest medical book in China, having been written by numerous
medical authors around 475 to 221 BC.
The Nei Jing
is divided into two parts. The first part, Su Wen (Essential
Questions), is based on theory, while the second part Ling Shu (Spiritual
Pivot) deals with practical application.
Although thousands
of years old, the book remains the foundation for the theory and philosophy
on which Chinese medicine was founded. In this ancient text, nine different
types of needles are mentioned as being used for acupuncture treatments,
each one with a different tip and a precise length and width. These
were used for a variety of conditions from rheumatic diseases to pediatrics.
Acupuncture rapidly
developed in China between 250 and 600 AD with additional books and
charts being written to describe the channels and points for the treatment
of an even greater number of conditions. Through the centuries, following
the publication of these works, and with many of the traditions being
passed from one generation to the next, acupuncture practice progressed.
In the Tang Dynasty
(618-907AD) medical academies were established, and in about 1026 the
Classic of the Bronze Man was created to illustrate the precise
courses of the meridians, and the locations of the points. These two
life sized bronze figures were used for teaching and smaller replicas
(in other materials) are still used today for training acupuncturists.
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