History

The Evolution Of A Healing Art: Observations Of The Forces Of Nature.

Evidence of acupuncture can be found in archeological dig sites dating back to the Neolithic period (6000 – 3000 BCE). Artifacts such as sharpened stone and bone carved into needle type tools are abundant. Carvings and writings showing a channel system in body, called meridians, through which the energy or Qi flows, and is at the root of every acupuncture treatment are among the many relics found. All this evidence clearly shows that this form of medical treatment was well established in ancient times.

It wasn’t until sometime between the years 475-221 BCE that the first book, The Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine, also known as Huangdi Neijing, was written. While it is thought to be more of a compilation of the study of treatment protocol over many centuries, and the exact date when it was written is unknown, it is widely believed to be the earliest surviving work of Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

After the Chinese revolution in 1949, Chairman Mao, in his attempt to revive the ancient culture and secure China’s relevance in a growing Western world, promoted the use of acupuncture as the primary healthcare for the masses, especially in rural areas where doctors were limited. He also encouraged research and standardized training for acupuncture apprentices and officially codified the acronym TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in his attempt to widen its reach. It wasn’t until President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972 that the study of acupuncture in the United States started to become a reality.

In the United States acupuncture has become a prominent CAM (Complementary alternative medicine) practice. Studies in 2022 show that over 7 million people have tried some form of acupuncture treatment and in 2023 the industry itself generated over 44 billion in revenue with an anticipated growth rate of 18% over the next decade. Today, thousands of students are enrolled in over 50 acupuncture schools across the country.