(A short) History of Acupuncture
Acupuncture first developed in China. The most famous book about the practice of acupuncture is popularly known as the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine. However, strictly speaking Yellow Thearch would be a better translation of the original Chinese: Huangdi (黄帝). The book comprises two parts the Suwen (素问) or Simple Questions and the Lingshu (灵枢) or Numinous Pivot. The book is most likely a collection of shorter pieces that were written in the 1st and 2nd century BCE [1]. The Yellow Thearch’s Canon of Internal Medicine along with another text the Classic of Difficulties Nanjing (难经), compiled in the 1st centuries 2nd AD, contain the foundational theories of acupuncture. These books introduce the acupuncture points, the meridians, needle techniques, the causes of disease, and methods of diagnosis such as taking the pulse.
The use of acupuncture spread throughout China where it has been in constant use for over 2000 years. Acupuncture at times enjoyed Imperial patronage for example during the Tang dynasty (618-906) with a National University and an Imperial Medical Office. Centrally regulated medical education declined with the collapse of the empire but then was re-established during the Song dynasty by Wang Anshi between 1068-85 [2]. Alongside the official education system were family lineages, with knowledge being passed down through the generations. In the 1950s the sum of the differing traditions were unified to form what is now called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This is the style of practice found in Chinese hospitals today.
By the 6th century AD acupuncture had reached neighbouring countries such as Japan and Korea. In the later-half of the 17th century European traders started to write accounts of acupuncture. Jacob de Bondt surgeon general for the Dutch East India company wrote the results with acupuncture ‘surpass even miracles’ [3]. Acupuncture was further spread across the globe by migrants from China and other Asian countries: for example Vietnamese migrants took acupuncture to France [4]. In 1971 James Reston, a journalist who had accompanied Nixon to China, published an article in the New York Times describing his experience of acupuncture in a Chinese hospital. The article sparked a great deal of interest. On the one hand this led to more scientific research into the effects of acupuncture. On the other hand it also led to greater scrutiny of the profession and who should be allowed to practice.
Over the past 50 years acupuncture has enjoyed increasing recognition in many Western countries. Professional organisations have been formed and there commonly different styles of acupuncture these can be divided into three broad categories.
Traditionally-based systems of acupuncture which include: TCM, Five Elements, Stems and Branches, Japanese Meridian Therapy, and others. These styles have their roots in the classic texts such as the Yellow Thearch’s Canon of Internal Medicine.
There are also contemporary styles of acupuncture such as western medical acupuncture. The third category is microsystems, for example ear acupuncture
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Unschuld, P.U., Huang Di Nei Jing Ling Shu: The Ancient Classic on Needle Therapy. 2016: University of California Press. 798.
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Sivin, N., ed. Volume 6, Biology and Biological Technology; Part 6 Medicine. Science and Civilisation in China, ed. J. Needham and G.-D. Lu. Vol. 1 edition. 2000, Cambridge University Press.
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Lu, G.-D. and J. Needham, Celestial lancets: a history and rationale of acupuncture and moxa. 2002, London: RoutledgeCurzon. 427
