Acupuncture and History: A Primer
Today’s fascination with holistic healing has brought traditional Chinese medicine techniques like acupuncture into the spotlight. For some, this method of treating a variety of ailments resonates with Eastern mysticism and a completely different medical culture. However, when one understands acupuncture and history, particularly in light of the way Western medicine has found advantages to this treatment, acupuncture sessions can become a bit more main stream. This article will give a brief synopsis of acupuncture and history, from both the East and the West.
Eastern History
Acupuncture and history can be traced back thousands of years, to the second century BC. These are the earliest recorded reports of acupuncture being used, although it may date back even further than that. Early theories regarded the human body as a miniature representation of the universe, and believed that the body could achieve wellness by remaining in balance within its internal environment. This practice began in Asia, and then slowly spread throughout Europe and the Americas. However, it has been much more recently that acupuncture and history have come together in the United States and today it is a generally accepted method of alternative medicine that is practiced all over the country.
Western History
Acupuncture and history in Western cultures, specifically the United States, did not really come together until about 1970. However, it appeared in medical literature in this country a full century prior, with mentions of the techniques in a textbook, The Principles and Practice of Medicine. Editions of this text continued to be published well into the middle of the last century, but long before acupuncture became standard practice in this country. In 1971, a New York Times reporter brought acupuncture to the forefront of Western medicine, when he reported from a ping-pong match in Beijing. While there, he had to go an emergency appendectomy, and his post-operative healing was enhanced through acupuncture treatment.
After this report hit the newsstands in the United States, acupuncture and history became a Western phenomenon as well. By 1987, the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture was founded, and by 1991, nearly 10,000 practitioners were offering acupuncture treatments to patients. In 1996, the FDA added its own seal of approval to the procedure, by changing its acupuncture classification from investigational to “safe, effective, but with special restrictions.” By the year 2000, a method of certification was in place, so that patients could ensure the acupuncturist they chose was following safety guidelines. Today, people can find acupuncturists in nearly every community from coast to coast, allowing many to reap the many benefits that this method of alternative medicine can offer.
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