The Fascinating History of Acupuncture

Throughout the world, millions of people rely on acupuncture to help them deal with a variety of conditions. Have you ever wondered how this therapy evolved to become what it is today? Acupuncture has a fascinating history! This blog post explains its origins. You might just find a new appreciation for this ancient form of medicine.

Acupuncture’s Earliest Days

There is some debate about exactly when acupuncture began. Some say it started more than 3,000 years ago in China. However, such claims may simply be referring to the use of sharp objects to let blood or carry out other purposes. Those practices were not “acupuncture,” per say, but acupuncture may have been their natural evolution.

The earliest archeological evidence of acupuncture dates back to around the year 100 BCE. It was documented in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.

The idea at the foundation of acupuncture relates to Qi, an unseen flow of energy that operates within the human body. It was thought the acupuncture needles could influence Qi and thereby improve a patient’s health.

The Development and Decline of Acupuncture

After its start, acupuncture became more and more popular throughout China, and it eventually became a standard treatment. It was often used alongside complementary therapies, such as massage, heat, herbs, and diet.

Throughout the 14^th – 16^th centuries, acupuncture practices became more standardized. It was during this time that The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was published. It describes well over 300 acupuncture points that were thought to have an influence on Qi, and many of its principles have survived to our modern day.

Beginning in the 17^th century, acupuncture faced a decline in popularity. It was regarded as an irrational practice, and this idea only became more entrenched as Western medicine gained a foothold in Eastern cultures. In fact, in 1929, acupuncture was outlawed in China.

Modern Acupuncture

China’s Communist Government revived acupuncture and other forms of traditional medicine in 1949.

In the early 1970s, a member of the US Press Corps received acupuncture treatment and published his experience in The New York Times. Before then, the U.S. and other countries had already shown some interest in acupuncture, but the New York Times Article created even more buzz around this therapy.

Today, traditional acupuncture may still rely on principles of Qi. However, medical acupuncture is a little different. Rather than relying on energy flows that have never been scientifically proven to exist, it uses advanced knowledge of the nervous system to produce results. Many of its techniques come from traditional methods, but the entire approach is more grounded in modern medicine.

Acupuncture is an amazing and effective treatment! It has helped many people throughout history, and it is likely to continue doing so well into the future.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Derek Murphy and the team at Holistic Medicine Wellness Center are proud to offer medical acupuncture as one of our treatments. If you have been dealing with pain, stress, trouble sleeping, nausea, or a number of other conditions, acupuncture might be able to help. To learn more about it and how our team may be able to serve you, contact us at 407-319-7541.