The Tale of the Yellow River and Chinese Acupuncture

1. Acupuncture: A remarkable healing technique over two centuries old

Acupuncture treats 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 fine needles right into the body. In July of 1971, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger made a secret journey to China to plan for President Nixon's historical go to. Amongst his entourage was James Reston, a journalist from the New York Times. While in China, Reston suffered an assault of intense appendicitis and also undertook an appendectomy at the Beijing Union Medical College, developed by the Rockefeller Foundation of New York City in 1916. During the 2nd evening after the operation, Reston started to experience considerable discomfort in his abdominal area.

With his authorization, an acupuncturist at the healthcare facility inserted and manipulated 3 lengthy slim needles, one right into the external part of his appropriate arm joint and also one listed below each knee. There was recognizable relaxation of the abdominal stress as well as distension within a hr, without reappearance of the problem thereafter. James Reston consisted of an in-depth description of his experiences with acupuncture in his dispatches from Beijing. This was the very first such record to get to the English-speaking residents of the USA, at the very least the vast majority that had no day-to-day 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 specialist, is considered to be the founder of acupuncture. A biography of Qin Yueren is consisted of in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji), the masterwork of the distinguished Chinese chronicler 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 daddy of Western medication.

Qin Yueren took a trip widely throughout the feudal states that compromised China during his time, treating males and females, old as well as young alike. As a result, he was given the advantageous appellation Bian Que, which suggests Wayfaring Magpie - a bird that flies occasionally giving good fortune. A number of carved stones, discovered from a tomb dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 ADVERTISEMENT), depict him with a human head as well as a bird's body.

On one occasion, while travelling through the State of Guo (present-day Shan Region in Henan District), Bian Que learned that the Royal prince of Guo had actually passed away and also his subjects were preparing to inter him. After careful exam, Bian Que believed that the royal prince had actually merely experienced a type of deep coma known as ghastly reversal. He successfully resuscitated the patient by needling an acupoint on the vertex of his head, and end up being understood for bringing the dead back to life. This was the first taped use acupuncture in China.

Acupuncture is remarkable. Needles have actually historically been amongst one of the most usual tools of life, made use of for building garments throughout the world. Just as needles are utilized to stitch clothes, they are likewise used clinically to suture lacerations. While hollow syringes are made use of to inject fluids right into the body or to draw them out, pricking the body with a strong acupuncture needle to treat illness appears fairly incomprehensible. Lots of people favor not to be punctured with needles, and associate needling with discomfort and injury. No wonder, to "needle" a person means to disappoint or to aggravate in English. By experimentation, healers throughout the world have individually found comparable therapies for pain as well as condition, including natural herbs, origins, covers, massages, blood-letting, massage therapy, reflection, or surgical procedure. Yet the innovation of acupuncture is special to China.