HISTORY

Acupuncture is an old Chinese form of therapy. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin word ‘acus’ = needle and ‘puncture’ = to punch (through skin). The therapy was named by Jesuits in the 17th century. Historical research shows that acupuncture has been practised in China for at least 7000-9000 years. According to Chinese legends, arrows shot in battle sometimes relieved long-time ailments, if they happened to hit certain points in the body. With time and experience a system was formed, which comprehensively takes all internal and external factors which affect health into consideration. At first the needles were made of stone, bone, fishbone or bamboo. Nowadays acupuncture needles are made from stainless steel.

This form of medicine (acupuncture) was introduced into the Western world in the 17th century by Jesuit missionaries returning from China. The Jesuits introduced acupuncture to Central- and Western-Europe, which explains the widespread use of acupuncture in that area. In America Osler used acupuncture in the late 19th century. He was disappointed and gave up acupuncture, however, after he failed in treating an important patient. This marked the end of acupuncture in America for decades. The history of acupuncture in the Western countries is currently under revision, because a tattoo representing the acupunctural points was found on the 4000 year-old “Iceman Öz” on the Alps. In China the emperors forbade acupuncture in the last century, but it remained as a “layman’s medicine” among the ordinary people. In the times of Chairman Mao, acupuncture was re-introduced and was considered a simple and cheap form of medicine alongside its Western cousin. In Europe the use of acupuncture is most popular in Central-Europe and in France.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based mostly on the abstract philosophy of the Tao. It’s a comprehensive philosophy which concentrates on the relationship between the individual and the environment. According to the Tao, the basis of all being is gi (energy). It flows in meridians (channels). The channels are named after internal organs, to which they are seen to be related (the colon, bladder, kidney etc.). Another theory is based on the yin/yang-energies, which are the dynamic, ever-changing states of the positive and negative powers.
According to a Chinese theory a human being is healthy when energy flows through the channels freely and there is enough of it. Medical symptoms are signs of disturbances in the flow of energy or the lack of it. This phenomenon was observed early on with pulse diagnostics. The aim of acupuncture is to control the flow of energy with needles inserted into certain points in the body. These points are usually located on the meridians. According to acupuncture theories, the state of one’s health is also affected by environment, nourishment, genetics and acquired features.