Did you know that acupuncture is at
least two thousand years old?
 The Chinese healing art of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is one that can be dated back at least two thousand years. In fact, some authorities maintain that acupuncture has been practiced in China for almost five thousand years. Though its exact age is vague, what is certain is that up until the late twentieth century, most Americans were uninformed about acupuncture, its origins, and its capacity to promote and maintain good health. It is the oldest form of professional medicine continually practiced in the world. Currently, Oriental Medicine serves more than two Billion people worldwide. One can say that modern Western and traditional Acupuncture and Chinese medicines are the two dominant medical systems in the world today.
Emperor Shen Nung (circa 3000 BCE), is believed to have introduced the technique of acupuncture to Chinese medicine. Shen Nung theorized that the body had an energy force running throughout it. This circulating energy force is known as Qi (roughly pronounced Chee). Qi is the vital force, or energy, inherent in all essential life activities including the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of life. A person’s health is influenced by the flow of Qi through defined pathways within the body, in combination with the universal balancing forces of Yin and Yang. If the flow of Qi is insufficient, unbalanced, or interrupted, Yin and Yang become unbalanced, and illness may occur. Energy constantly flows up and down these pathways. When the pathways become obstructed, deficient, excessive, or just unbalanced, Yin and Yang are said to be thrown out of their natural cycle of balance. This causes illness. Acupuncture can restore that natural cycle of balance.
In addition to Qi, acupuncture and Oriental Medicine recognize a subtle energy transport system by which Qi is circulated through the body. The pathways along this transportation system are referred to as channels or meridians. To better visualize the concept of Qi, and the meridians, think of the meridians as a river-bed, over which water flows and irrigates the land; feeding, nourishing and sustaining the substance through which it flows. (In Western medicine, the concept would be likened to the blood flowing through the circulatory system— arteries, veins, and capillaries.) If a dam were placed at any point along the river, the nourishing effect that the water had on the whole river would stop at the point the dam was placed.
The same is true in relation to Qi and the meridians. When the Qi becomes blocked, the rest of the body that was being nourished by the continuous flow now suffers. Illness and disease can result if the flow is not restored. Acupuncture is one tool used to restore the flow of Qi, by inserting needles into the acupuncture points (located on the meridians). These insertions are said to clear any residing blockages, or dams, thus freeing the river to better feed the body in its entirety. Thus the free flow of Qi is re-established and the body is harmoniously balanced. As the body is guided back into harmony, symptoms resolve naturally.
In 1994, the FDA approved acupuncture needles as “safe and effective medical devices.” This was followed in 1997 by a consensus statement issued by the National Institute of Health which recognized acupuncture as an effective treatment for a variety of conditions. The World Health Organization recommends the use of acupuncture for 49 conditions. Of course, Asians have successfully treated with acupuncture for thousands of years. Now, however, the WHO and NIH have conceded that acupuncture does indeed work, and a good deal of exciting research is underway to discover more used for this traditional healing technique.
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