by Philp Babitsky

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 26, 2009

Acupuncture which means needle pricking in Latin ecompasses the concept of the life force and the qi, which is in fact not uniquely Chinese. The Incas in South America had a system of differing winds that passed the human body and that could be altered from improved health benefits. In fact no one knows the exact origins of this practise. However, due to Chinese philosphy that dates back to the ancient times, accupuncture is distinctly associated with China and Asia in general. However, through generations of trial and error the Chinese were able to describe how the body operates utilising the energy they called qi, and from that the they were able to gain the knowledge of how to alter specific energy states of the body and consequenetly improve health.

Recent archeological evidence suggests that accupuncture may in fact be much older than first thought and evident by remains of primitive societies of over ten thousand years ago who made knives of stone after which they were further cut and refined into fine, yet brittle needles named bian stone. The ancient Greeks were well known for using needles to help reduce pain, inflamation and other things. It was well documented by Greek physicians like Erasistratus and Praxagoras who hypothesized that arteries conducted the vital force pneuma, and not blood, which was just a life force carrier. The principle of the life force being carried around the body by specific currents is the basis of Chinese accupuncture which may have in fact be an adaptation and stylisation of Greek medicine.

Some of the earliest Chinese Buddhist texts reveal that thought of human energy which was described by an early Chinese medical practitioner, Giba, was associated with practising in healing techniques. Archaeological digs had revealed flint needles from that era that are thought to have been used in early forms of accupuncture, however, not much information is presented in ancient texts on them or their use. Naturally the concept of energy flow in the body was studied through meditation, as well as through trial and error according to man's reaction to the surrounding environment.

Accupuncture was initially developed from the shinto belief in China, where it was thought that the deceased ancestors could harm the living; so a way to bring them back to life was thought and tried to be developed. During this time of the Shang Dynasty that encompassed the period from the seventeenth century to the eleventh century B.C, the insertion

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