Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern medical practice that has stood the test of time. From China’s Ming Dynasty to modern-day doctors’ offices, this treatment has been used to provide natural relief for a wide range of symptoms. If you’re considering seeing an acupuncturist, understanding the centuries of history behind the practice may help you get the most out of your experience.

The Story of Acupuncture in Global Medicine

How It Began

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that has spread across the globe. Ancient people may have used sharpened stones and bones for the treatment, as early as 6000 BCE. However, there’s no concrete evidence that they used those tools for acupuncture; they may have been used for lancing abscesses or drawing blood.

The first recording of acupuncture is found in the ancient Chinese medical text of Huang Di Nei Jing, or The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which is dated at about 100 BCE. This document defines the channels of the body through which the Qi flow. What we know as modern-day acupuncture was then introduced during the Ming Dynasty, from 1368 to 1644, as the practice became more developed.

The Global Phenomenon

As global travel became more common, the practice began to spread to other countries. For example, it was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. It then continued to move west, reaching Europe in 1810.

The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments in 1995, and the NIH (National Institutes of Health) classified it as an effective therapy for health conditions in 1997. Today, there are accredited acupuncture schools, licensing, and certification training for the practice in the United States.

If you’re ready to try a practice that has been boosting wellness for centuries, visit the experts at Avicenna Acupuncture in Denver, CO. Doctors Igor P. Zielinski and Petra E. Schalk have years of experience providing acupuncture treatments for fertility, pain relief, and more. Learn more on their website or call (303) 803-0675 to schedule an appointment.