The History of Acupuncture

 

Acupuncture is around 2000 years and has its origin in China and is rooted in the

Taoist tradition, which goes back over 8000 years. Its part of Traditional Chinese

Medicine together with Chinese herbs and healing arts like Qi Gong and Tai Chi.

Back in the days instead of needles sharpened stones and long sharp bones were

used for treatments. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine is the earliest

documentation  that refers to acupuncture, which was written at around 100 BCE.

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The history of acupuncture is somewhat unclear, because during the Qin Dynasty

(221 – 206 BC) many religions, sciences and philosophies were banned and most of

the books were destroyed.

Acupuncture had some up and downs over the years. 1644-1912 it was said to be a

lost art, it was though of as a low-class treatment and wasn’t very popular with the

elite. 1822 a Qing imperial banned the practice and teaching of acupuncture.

By the end of 1912 western medicine was promoted and was suppose to replace the

traditional practices.

 

Acupuncture was supposed to become a scientific discipline in the 1950’s, but 1966 when the Cultural revolution started acupuncture and other treatments were again banned.

Many acupuncture and qi-related practitioners where imprisoned or killed, and some escaped to other countries where they taught the techniques and helped them to become more popular.

In the 1980s acupuncture had a come back in the country and still plays an important role in China’s medical system.

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Acupuncture becomes more and more popular in the Western world. It has become more modernized, but it will never lose its connection to its philosophical roots.

 

The science behind Acupuncture has been explored more and more in the last couple of years and it seems it has has a lot to do with the fascia in our body.

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