The Tale of the Yellow River and also Chinese Acupuncture

1. Acupuncture: A remarkable healing method over two millennia old

Acupuncture deals with The Story of the Yellow River and Chinese Acupuncture

By Bai Xinghua |   Submitted On October 10, 2009 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest

1. Acupuncture: An extraordinary therapeutic method over two millennia old

Acupuncture treats diseases by the insertion of fine needles into the body. In July of 1971, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger made a secret trip to China to prepare for President Nixon's historical visit. Among his entourage was James Reston, a journalist from the New York Times. While in China, Reston suffered an attack of acute appendicitis and underwent an appendectomy at the Beijing Union Medical College, established by the Rockefeller Foundation of New York in 1916. During the second night after the operation, Reston started to experience considerable discomfort in his abdomen.

With his approval, an acupuncturist at the hospital inserted and manipulated three long thin needles, one into the outer part of his right elbow and one below each knee. There was noticeable relaxation of the abdominal pressure and distension within an hour, with no recurrence of the problem thereafter. James Reston included a detailed description of his experiences with acupuncture in his dispatches from Beijing. This was the first such report to reach the English-speaking citizens of the United States, at least the vast majority who had no daily contact with Asians.

By contrast, acupuncture has been known and practiced in China for over 2300 years. Qin Yueren, the earliest recorded Chinese practitioner, is considered to be the founder of acupuncture. A biography of Qin Yueren is included in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji), the masterwork of the eminent Chinese historian Sima Qian (135 - ? BC). It is known that Qin Yueren lived around 407-310 BC, and was a contemporary of Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC), the father of Western medicine.

Qin Yueren traveled widely throughout the feudal states that compromised China during his time, treating men and women, old and young alike. As a result, he was given the auspicious appellation Bian Que, which means Wayfaring Magpie - a bird that flies here and there dispensing good fortune. Several carved stones, unearthed from a tomb dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), portray him with a human head and a bird's body.

On one occasion, while passing through the State of Guo (present-day Shan County in Henan Province), Bian Que learned that the Prince of Guo had died and his subjects were preparing to inter him. After careful examination, Bian Que believed that the prince had merely experienced a type of deep coma known as deathlike reversal. He successfully resuscitated the patient by needling an acupoint on the vertex of his head, and become known for bringing the dead back to life. This was the first recorded use of acupuncture in China.

Acupuncture is extraordinary. Needles have historically been among the most common tools of daily life, used for constructing garments all over the world. Just as needles are used to sew clothes, they are also utilized medically to suture incisions. While hollow syringes are used to inject fluids into the body or to draw them out, pricking the body with a solid acupuncture needle to treat illness seems quite incomprehensible. Most people prefer not to be punctured with needles, and associate needling with pain and injury. No wonder, to "needle" a person means to displease or to irritate in English. By trial and error, healers throughout the world have independently discovered similar treatments for pain and disease, including herbs, roots, wraps, rubs, blood-letting, massage, meditation, or surgery. But the invention of acupuncture is unique to China. illness by the insertion of great needles into the body. In July of 1971, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger made a secret journey to China to get ready for President Nixon's historical see. Among his entourage was James Reston, a journalist from the New York Times. While in China, Reston suffered an assault of severe appendicitis and also went through an appendectomy at the Beijing Union Medical University, developed by the Rockefeller Foundation of New York City in 1916. During the second evening after the procedure, Reston began to experience considerable pain in his abdominal area.

With his authorization, an acupuncturist at the healthcare facility inserted as well as adjusted three lengthy thin needles, one right into the outer component of his ideal elbow and one below each knee. There was obvious leisure of the abdominal stress and distension within an hour, without reappearance of the issue after that. James Reston consisted of a detailed description of his experiences with acupuncture in his dispatches from Beijing. This was the first such record to reach the English-speaking citizens of the United States, at the very least the vast majority who had no daily contact with Asians.

By contrast, acupuncture has been recognized as well as exercised in China for over 2300 years. Qin Yueren, the earliest recorded Chinese professional, is thought about to be the founder of acupuncture. A bio of Qin Yueren is consisted of in the Records of the Grand Chronicler (Shi Ji), the masterwork of the noteworthy Chinese historian Sima Qian (135 -? BC). It is recognized that Qin Yueren lived around 407-310 BC, as well as was a modern of Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC), the daddy of Western medicine.

Qin Yueren traveled widely throughout the feudal states that compromised China during his time, dealing with men and women, old and young alike. Consequently, he was provided the auspicious appellation Bian Que, which means Wayfaring Magpie - a bird that flies occasionally giving good luck. Several sculpted rocks, unearthed from a burial place dating back to the Eastern Han Empire (25-220 AD), portray him with a human head and also a bird's body.

Once, while passing through the State of Guo (contemporary Shan Region in Henan District), Bian Que learned that the Prince of Guo had passed away as well as his topics were preparing to inter him. After mindful examination, Bian Que believed that the prince had simply experienced a sort of deep coma called deathlike reversal. He efficiently resuscitated the client by needling an acupoint on the vertex of his head, and also end up being recognized for bringing the dead back to life. This was the initial tape-recorded use of acupuncture in China.

Acupuncture is remarkable. Needles have actually historically been among the most usual devices of life, utilized for building garments all over the world. Equally as needles are made use of to sew clothing, they are also used clinically to suture cuts. While hollow syringes are made use of to infuse fluids right into the body or to attract them out, puncturing the body with a solid acupuncture needle to treat illness appears rather incomprehensible. Most individuals prefer not to be pierced with needles, and also associate needling with pain and also injury. It's not surprising that, to "needle" a person indicates to disappoint or to aggravate in English. By trial and error, therapists throughout the globe have individually discovered comparable treatments for pain and disease, consisting of natural herbs, origins, covers, rubs, blood-letting, massage, reflection, or surgical treatment. But the innovation of acupuncture is special to China.