Accu Blog 001 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHIES OF ACUPUNCTURE Primitive Chinese Acupuncture

 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHIES OF ACUPUNCTURE                     Blog 001

Primitive Chinese Acupuncture

                Acupuncture has a history of over 8000 years in its earliest forms of ‘Taoist theory’. So it is best to learn its past history to understand the concept and consequence of this way of medicinal practice.

        I-Ching theory: This book is based on the theory written by an individual named Fku-Hsi, it has a span of 8000 years of survival and its culture is felt in Yellow river civilization of china. This book is predominantly an important book for acupuncture practice as it is seen in Chinese history.

           Nei-jing theory: it is a discourse (2697BC-2596BC) between the emperor Huwan-di and his head medicinal practitioner Qi-Bo, which lead this book to be published between 305 BC – 204 BC. This book is taken as mother of all the books about acupuncture.

              Non-jing: Between 421-221BC there were many patterns of acupuncture been practiced, this is the period were lot of researches and development of theories been discussed in a book called Non Jing, describes Chinese history.

 

Three different turning points that had boosted acupuncture practice:

                The tools used to induce the points of acupuncture in one’s body are the primary changes that could have led to the development of acupuncture practice.

1.       The studies reveals that, during early 1000 BC, the tools like bones, wood pieces, stones and other sharp objects been used to induce the acupuncture points.

2.       Between 421-221BC it is the age of metals in the Chinese history, henceforth the introduction of metals in the form of needles can be seen.  During 113BC, metals like silver and gold being used as needles can be observed.

3.       During 1644-1840AD, it is the time period of waging wars in search of Opium, henceforth this is the age we see the mixture of herbs and shrubs  alongside, the use of acupuncture practice. It is the time were people tried to use the mixture of acupuncture and herbal medicines techniques.  In 1911, after the Chinese revolution, the Chinese leader Mao tried to convince the acupuncturists to mix acupuncture with English medicines.

 

Since acupuncture is been practiced generations to generations through Chinese emperors through their dynasties, its basic theories been ignored by many as the days passed.  This lead to misinterpretation of techniques used in practicing acupuncture.

Even though the acupuncture of history over 8000 years and its shining and developments can be seen and the techniques to solve the problems using needles with different metals, one has to understand that there is a huge gap of at least few thousand years were none of the above said needles been used.

Addition of several medicines and uniting other medicinal techniques alongside of acupuncture actually questions the base of acupuncture techniques had led to non-development of acupuncture.

It was the practice of acupuncture way of leading life in the society that lead to one inducting needling point to solve all problems of the body.  But people have forgotten the way of life and duly missed this way of treatment with one needling point for all types of problems and issues.

1600 AD is the era were the acupuncture treatment travels to Europe. 

1950 AD China describes acupuncture as the government approved second medicinal practice in its country.

1962 AD World Health Organisation WHO describes and recognises Acupuncture techniques for medical practitioners of other countries.

As the acupuncture been practiced in several countries, it is been added with several other medicinal techniques and treatment procedures.

Father of Acupuncture, “Huwe-Ping” describes that over 10,000 problems, can be treated with one needling point.  But this is been forgotten by Chinese Medicine, along the way of changes in their way of life and cultures that has taken place with the invasion of foreign culture and ethics in the course of history. 

Acupuncture was considered as a technique used only for pain and been considered as only alternative medicine, when it entered India through Sri Lanka.

Classical Chinese Acupuncture:

                While reading Chinese Historic evidence that, during 1600 AD several techniques like many selection points for one particular problem and addition of other Chinese classical medicinal techniques, in the practice of Acupuncture.

                After revealing the pulse of an individual, the treating techniques alongside or addition of other Chinese medicinal techniques with acupuncture can be listed as follows:

1.       Moxibustion: it is a technique were a scribe called “Ardimetia Vulgaris” will be burnt (in India an alternative for this is Flower called Mari Kozhundhu) directly or indirectly to enhance the needling Qui point of acupuncture.

2.       Qi-Cong (Breathing technique):  this refers to Indian Yoga technique called “Praana Yaama”. It is the technique used to keep one’s soul in its enhanced state.

3.       Body Work out technique Thai-Chi:  Thai Chi is yoga like physical exercise practice in Chinese way of physical exercise.

4.       Massage: it is the technique used to feed the pressure in the needling point or the wounded point.  There are several techniques involved in massages.  Main idea is to relieve the stress involved in the region of tissues which are stressed.

5.       Herbal medicine (Herbology):  this is the technique used to solve the problem using medicinal plants and advising the patient to use only foods related to nature alongside.