Acupuncture is one of the
modalities of Oriental medicine. Although what is called acupuncture
in the West comprises of several different therapies (such as moxibustion
and cupping),mostly it consists of the insertion of fine needles into
the body at specific points shown to be effective in the treatment of
specific health problems. These points have been mapped by the Chinese
over a period of two thousand years, and there are more than a thousand
known acupoints. In the past three decades, electromagnetic research
has confirmed the existence and location of these points.
Acupuncture is part of the traditional medicine of China, which includes
herbal medicine, exercise, massage and diet. It is based on a history,
philosophy and sociology very different from the west, and over 3000
years has developed a unique understanding of the workings of the body.
