what is Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the extrenal for internal disorders. The treatment is carried out by inserting acupuncture needles at various pre-determined points over the body. The term"acupuncture" isderived from the latin word acus (needles) and pungere (puncture) or prick. acupuncture treatment also includes moxibution and hydrotherapy. Originally acupuncture was not developedas a science but as an art. The ancient and traditional chinese art of healing.Now, however becauseof the tremendous research being carried out in the East as well as west, it is developing into ascience. Acupuncture is a philosophical approach towards the human body and mind. It is adrugless therapy and therefore least damaging to the physique. A Chinese book called 'dictionary of Characters' which existed 2000 years agomentions "pien" which is the curing of disease by pressing with stones, 'Huang di Nei jing' yellowEmperor's Classic of Internal Medicine is supposed to the oldest medical text in the world.presented as a dialogue between the yellow Emperor and his prime Minister physician QiBO. This book is in two sections. The first 'Su Wen' ( simple questions) contains the principles ofgeneral medicine, and the second 'Ling Shu' (Magic Gate or Spiritual Pivot) describes varioustherapeutic methods (1)Herbal acupuncture (2) Moxibustion, (3) Surgery.The use of metal needles had evolved by the time of Huang Di Neijing. This book also contains information aboutchannels. (meridians), acupuncture points, needles, methods of insertion, diseases, etc.edicaldiagnosis at that time was based upon pulse diagnosis. The dyty of the doctor was to instruct the patient how to keep himself fit and prevention was given more importan.