| The ancient medicinal practice of | | | | many, many years. Obviously, the history |
| acupuncture has only relatively recently | | | | of acupuncture shows us that the skill |
| experienced boom in popularity. Yet it | | | | and practice of this alternative |
| is popularity in the Chinese world | | | | medicine at greater acceptance in the |
| statues back as far as 5000 years. In | | | | Far East in such cases as China and |
| the ancient land of China its use has | | | | Japan. These people were more convinced |
| never dwindled not even over five | | | | than of people in the West. It is only |
| millennia. Its exact roots however are | | | | recent that was the techniques have |
| curtained by the years of time and in | | | | become widely accepted in these United |
| many cases it is a story on the history. | | | | States of America and Europe. Today in |
| Recent discoveries in the field of | | | | these countries it is very easy to find |
| archaeology have thankfully opened the | | | | some practitioner of other historical |
| window of time to an extent and we now | | | | art of Chinese acupuncture. The History |
| understand that both Korea and Japan | | | | Of Acupuncture extends into Modernity |
| practised acupuncture. From the very | | | | Progress of modern medical science was |
| beginning, he influenced of the | | | | partly to blame for the loss of faith in |
| acupuncturists began to spread from it | | | | alternative medicine is generally. This |
| is humble birth into a global phenomena. | | | | also hit the progress of acupuncture in |
| We are grateful today for ancient | | | | the West. Scepticism is hardly |
| literature especially at literature that | | | | surprising when you consider what |
| reveals something of the history of | | | | acupuncture is. Who would expect that |
| acupuncture. Much of this literature | | | | the system of inserting sharp needles |
| will describe the techniques of | | | | into the skin would bring about the |
| acupuncture. Different names are used | | | | healing of the body? It does seem |
| in different languages but they all | | | | strange! Yet today acupuncture stands |
| described the techniques with great | | | | shoulder to shoulder with some of the |
| similarities. The earliest record of | | | | most advanced, modern and scientific |
| Acupuncture is the 4,700 year old Huang | | | | techniques in medicine. If you need to |
| Di Nei Jing, or the Yellow Emperor's | | | | find acupuncturists today it is just so |
| Classic of Internal Medicine. This is | | | | simple. Just opened the local |
| also very likely to be the oldest | | | | directory, finger through the business |
| medical course book in the world. | | | | pages and take up the phone. Within |
| Apparently, Shen Nung, the father of | | | | minutes you'll be talking to somebody |
| Chinese Medicine, may have transcribed | | | | who may be able to offer you a real |
| it from even earlier theories. Shen Nung | | | | alternative to suffering and pain. |
| recognized theories about circulation, | | | | Booking fee appointment is no problem |
| pulse, and the heart over 4,000 years | | | | and you could be on your way to real |
| earlier than European medicine even had | | | | conflict and relief, even if modern |
| any concept of them. The history of | | | | medicine has failed you. The history of |
| acupuncture demonstrates that throughout | | | | acupuncture is the history of the |
| time acupuncture has faced to wall of | | | | success of tradition over scepticism. |
| scepticism. Yet acupuncture has still | | | | Peter Wellington writes for a website |
| growing in popularity and the techniques | | | | providing a comprehensive archive of |
| used in this art represents some of the | | | | free information and guides on the |
| most important and influential advances | | | | ancient art of Chinese Acupuncture. |
| in medicine and medical techniques for | | | | |