Chinese Acupuncture dates way back over 5000 years in China. This answers the question, How Old is Acupuncture? Acupuncture will be dated back to the 1st millennium B.C.E. in China. The hieroglyphics are dating back to 1000 BC which imply acupuncture usage. There are stone probes which are found in the prehistoric caves archeologists are of the consensus are the first acupuncture instruments.
Chinese Acupuncture with the use of needles; along with the system of meridians dates back to 2000 years. In approximately 200 B.C.E. the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Medicine Classic called Huang Di Nei Jing laid down the basics of acupuncture theory, philosophy and principals. This text which dates back to 305-204 BC describes the use of acupuncture. This ancient text is the foundation for Chinese acupuncture today.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is created from the religion of Taoism (pronounced Daoism). Taoism looked to nature to seek an understanding of the human body and its functions. It looked at the elements, the seasons and growth of plants and compared them to the body and how energy flows in the body. Ancient Chinese Doctors started to compare disease with natural phenomena. Ex. A drought can lead to a fire and a cough can be a fire in the body leading to fever. Thus the concept of the elements, seasons and nature was correlated to the body parts and functions as well.
Chinese Acupuncture is performed by inserting needles into particular points in the body and manipulating the needles upon insertion. Needle placement is based on the idea of the meridians and pressure points. Meridians are channels that interconnect allowing qi or vital energy to flow through the body. The twelve standard meridians can be found located on the arms and legs. There are also eight special meridians. As with the concept of negative and positive polarities called Yin and Yang, the meridians are divided up as Yin or Yang. The Yin meridians for the arm are Pericardium, Heart, and Lungs. The Yang meridians for the arm are Large Intestines, Triple Warmer, and Small intestines.
The Yin meridians for the leg are the Liver, kidney, and spleen. The Yang meridians are the Gallbladder, stomach, and Bladder. The 8 special meridians are those points along the body one says ouch too. In addition to the meridians are 400 acupuncture points along the various meridians. These are where the needles are inserted in the acupuncture points along the meridians.
The use of Chinese acupuncture is one type of treatment that brings the body back to harmony. Chinese acupuncture is used to alleviate the disharmony by opening the blockages that have come into being. These blockages don’t allow for qi to flow throughout one’s body. Qi has to flow for health to happen. Inserting the needles opens the blockages releasing the qi to flow again. Thus one’s health is restored.
Conclusion
How old is Acupuncture? Acupuncture has evolve over the years to become what it is today. When getting treatment, the needles are inserted for approximately not more than 15 to 20 minutes at a session. Make sure the acupuncturist you visit is licensed. You should not get your treatment from an acupuncturist who is not licensed. Needles used by a non-experienced or non-licensed practitioner can cause some serious bodily damage.