Interested in acupuncture but don’t completely understand how it works? Our guide to understanding acupuncture explains what acupuncture is, how it works and what scientific studies have to say about the practice. But first, let’s explore the history of acupuncture to get a better understanding of how this increasingly popular medical treatment came to be.

Origins in China

The first mentions of acupuncture are found in Chinese documents dating a couple hundred years before what is referred to as the Common Era. Acupuncture, the very premise of which is based on the existence of energy meridians, is inferred in documents sealed in 198 BCE within the Ma-Wang-Dui tomb. The system of meridians is detailed in these documents, demonstrating the exploration of the flow of chi via meridians as early as 198 BCE.

The first formal documentation that refers to actual acupuncture procedures is The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which is dated approximately 100 BCE. These documents detail questions posed by the emperor and answers provided by his minister, Chhi-Po, expanding upon the concepts of energy channels and ways to direct energy through the meridians of the body through acupuncture.

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Development of a Formal Practice

Acupuncture as an accepted practice developed over the next few centuries, becoming one of the standard therapies used throughout the country. During the Ming dynasty, The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was published; this is the text that contains the foundations of acupuncture upon which today’s practices are built. In this book, the 365 points used in acupuncture are defined and mapped, and the manipulation of the flow of Qi is described and prescribed.

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From China to the West

In the 1800s, Chinese interest in acupuncture waned, remaining low until the 1950s, when enthusiasm for acupuncture reappeared. Formal acupuncture research institutes were built in China at that time, and acupuncture because standard practice hospitals as well as clinics.

However, both Japan and Korea became interested in acupuncture in the 6th century, and the practice developed in these countries alongside China. In the 1950’s the United Kingdom and the United States both grew interested. Many Western doctors, threatened by this different approach to healing and overall health, resisted and tried to put the practice into disrepute. However, globalization was on the rise, and more and more Europeans and Americans were afforded opportunities to try acupuncture.

In the 1970s, acupuncture finally gained tenuous acceptance when an NIH consensus conference reported that there was positive evidence for its efficacy. Since that point, more and more doctors have been trained in acupuncture, and more and more studies have shown that acupuncture does work.

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Interested in Trying Acupuncture?

If you’re looking for a Huntersville acupuncturist, you’ve come to the right spot. Make an appointment or even just stop by to meet Dr. Doyle. Be sure to read our blog posts about acupuncture for specific medical conditions, and follow the links to studies proving the efficacy of this practice.

Worried about cost? Dr. Doyle accepts all insurance plans, including Medicare. We look forward to meeting you!