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Acupuncture is a treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine in which the practitioner, or "acupuncturist," stimulates various points on the body by inserting needles through the skin. It has been used to treat chronic pain and other ailments for thousands of years. If you are unfamiliar with the practice, Marie Gonzales, L.Ac., a natural healing specialist in Rockland County, NY, offers a brief history of acupuncture in the following sections.

A Brief History of the Practice of Acupuncture

Origins

Acupuncture originated in China, although experts disagree as to the date. What is known is that the first record documenting an organized system of acupuncture dates to about 100 years B.C. Moreover, gold and silver needles were found in the tomb of a prince of the Western Han empire that dates back to the same period. Practitioners believed needles inserted beneath the skin could manipulate the patient's "chi," or life force, through channels in the body and directed to fight disease and promote healing.

Early Developments

acupuncture in Nyack, NYDuring the first century A.D., practitioners came to believe that the seasons, lunar cycles, and even the time of day could impact acupuncture's efficacy and that earthly and heavenly forces had to be aligned before illness could be cured. The use of thick needles often resulted in infection, so practitioners began heating them in flames or boiling water. When inserted while still hot, the needles cauterized the insertion point. During the next several hundred years, the practice spread throughout the empire and many medical texts were composed on the subject.

Decline

By the end of the 13th century, the practice became much rarer, lost considerable status, and became associated more with alchemy and shamanism than with medicine. Many practitioners of this period were of lower classes and illiterate.

Modern Era

Over the centuries, acupuncture spread internationally, first through Korea and beyond. Then, after 1949, as Chairman Mao sought to unite China behind a set of traditional Chinese values, the practice enjoyed renewed interest and dramatic expansion. Today, many acupuncturists perform the technique using needles and an electric current. They change the frequency and intensity of the pulse depending on the condition being treated.

The history of acupuncture as a natural healing therapy is long and storied. To this day, it is still practiced all over the world to relieve pain and treat illness. For treatment of neck pain, muscle soreness, sciatica, or a number of other conditions, contact Marie Gonzales, L.Ac., a licensed acupuncturist practicing in Nyack, NY, for more than 20 years. Visit Ms. Gonzales' website to learn more about her services, or call (845) 398-1312 to schedule an appointment.

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