The Tale of the Yellow River and Chinese Acupuncture

1. Acupuncture: A remarkable restorative method over two centuries 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 fine needles 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 endured a strike of intense appendicitis as well as undertook an appendectomy at the Beijing Union Medical University, established by the Rockefeller Foundation of New York City in 1916. During the 2nd night after the procedure, Reston started to experience substantial pain in his abdomen.

With his approval, an acupuncturist at the medical facility placed as well as adjusted 3 long slim needles, one into the outer component of his ideal elbow as well as one listed below each knee. There was obvious leisure of the stomach stress and distension within a hr, without any recurrence of the problem after that. James Reston consisted of a detailed summary of his experiences with acupuncture in his dispatches from Beijing. This was the very first such report to get to the English-speaking citizens of the United States, a minimum of the large bulk that had no everyday call with Asians.

By contrast, acupuncture has been recognized and practiced in China for over 2300 years. Qin Yueren, the earliest tape-recorded Chinese practitioner, is considered to be the creator of acupuncture. A bio of Qin Yueren is included in the Records of the Grand Chronicler (Shi Ji), the masterwork of the noteworthy 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 jeopardized China during his time, dealing with men and women, old as well as young alike. Because of this, he was given the advantageous appellation Bian Que, which suggests Wayfaring Magpie - a bird that flies here and there giving good fortune. Several carved stones, uncovered from a tomb going back to the Eastern Han Empire (25-220 ADVERTISEMENT), depict him with a human head as well as a bird's body.

On one occasion, while going through the State of Guo (contemporary Shan County in Henan District), Bian Que learned that the Prince of Guo had died and his topics were preparing to inter him. After mindful exam, Bian Que believed that the prince had actually just experienced a kind of deep coma called ghastly turnaround. He successfully resuscitated the client by needling an acupoint on the vertex of his head, as well as end up being known for bringing the dead back to life. This was the first recorded use of acupuncture in China.

Acupuncture is phenomenal. Needles have actually historically been among the most usual tools of every day life, utilized for constructing garments all over the world. Equally as needles are used to stitch clothes, they are also used clinically to stitch incisions. While hollow syringes are made use of to inject liquids right into the body or to attract them out, pricking the body with a solid acupuncture needle to treat disease seems fairly incomprehensible. Many people prefer not to be pierced with needles, as well as associate needling with discomfort and injury. It's not surprising that, to "needle" a person suggests to disappoint or to irritate in English. By trial and error, healers throughout the world have actually individually uncovered similar treatments for discomfort as well as illness, consisting of natural herbs, roots, wraps, scrubs, blood-letting, massage, reflection, or surgery. However the invention of acupuncture is one-of-a-kind to China.