1. Acupuncture: an unusual method for two millennia
Acupuncture tumor diseases by introducing thin needles into the body. In July 1971, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger made a secret trip to China to prepare for President Nixon’s historic visit. Among his entourage was James Reston, a journalist from the New York Times. While in China, Reston suffered an acute appendicitis attack and underwent an appendectomy at the Peking Union Medical College established by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York in 1916. During the second night after surgery, Reston began to experience abdominal discomfort,
With his approval, an acupuncturist in the hospital inserted and manipulated three long, thin needles, one into the outer part of his right elbow and one under each knee. Within an hour, there was a noticeable relaxation of pressure and stretching of the abdominal cavity, without repeating the problem after that. James Reston has included a detailed description of his acupuncture experiments in his mailings from Beijing. This was the first such report that captured the English-speaking citizens of the United States, at least the vast majority who did not have daily contacts with Asians.
In contrast, acupuncture has been known and practiced in China for more than 2,300 years. Qin Yueren, the earliest registered Chinese practitioner, is considered the founder of acupuncture. The biography of Qin Yuuren is included in the Records of the Great Source (Shi Ji), a masterpiece of the eminent Chinese historian Sima Qian (135 -? BC). It is known that Qin Yueren lived around 407-310 BC. and was a contemporary of Hippocrates (about 460-377 BC), the father of Western medicine.
Qin Yueren traveled extensively in feudal states that had compromised China in their time, examining men and women, both old and young. As a result, he was given the auspicious name Bian Que, which means Wayfaring Magpie - a bird that flies here and there, distributing luck. Several carved stones found at the grave belonging to the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25-220), depicting it with a human head and a bird's body.
One day, after passing through the State of Guo (the current Shan county in the province of Henan), Bian Kyu learned that Prince Guo had died, and his subjects were preparing for it. After careful study, Bian Quinn believed that the prince had simply experienced a deep coma known as a deadly reversal. He successfully reanimated the patient, needing acupuncture on the top of his head, and became famous for bringing the dead back to life. It was the first recorded use of acupuncture in China.
Acupuncture is unusual. Needles have historically been one of the most common tools of everyday life used to make clothes around the world. Just as needles are used for sewing clothes, they are also used medically for suture incisions. While hollow syringes are used to inject fluids into the body or to draw them out, piercing the body with a solid acupuncture needle to treat a disease looks completely incomprehensible. Most people prefer not to be pierced with needles, but associated with pain and trauma. It is not surprising that the “needle” of a person means dissatisfaction or irritation in English. Through trial and error, healers around the world have independently discovered similar methods of treating pain and illness, including herbs, roots, wraps, rub, bleeding, massage, meditation, or surgery. But the invention of acupuncture is unique to China.
Why did the ancient Chinese begin to treat the disease, puncturing the body with a bare needle? The generally accepted answer to this question is that acupuncture originated as a natural result of everyday life in the Neolithic era (approximately 8000–3500 BC), through a case of an accidental accident and repeated empirical experience. According to this theory, people have noted cases in which physical problems were released after an unrelated crime. This led to the discovery of the principle that damage to a specific part of the body can alleviate or even cure a pre-existing disease or disorder in another part of the body.
It is believed that with this discovery, the Neolithic Chinese first began to use stones, animal bones or pieces of bamboo, in order to intentionally cause harm to link physical problems. The traumatic nature of acupuncture, which seems quite rough by modern standards, as well as its long history in China, seems to confirm the theory of its prehistoric origin. However, if acupuncture really arose from a repeated empirical experience of accidental damage, it had to develop all over the world, and not just in China.
2. Meridians of the Body: rivers of the Earth in a microworld
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the network, known as "meridians", spreads throughout the human body, carrying qi (vital energy) and blood to feed organs and tissues. The meridians of the human body are very similar to the rivers of Earth, both in structure and in function. The rivers are the meridians of the Earth in the macrocosm. These are the channels that contain the flow of water, the life force of our planet. On the microcosmic scale, the meridians of the human body are the channels that contain the flow of qi and blood, the life force of living beings.
The ancient Chinese discovered that there are twelve ordinary meridians in the human body. Neijing or Huangdi Nejing (Yellow Emperor Internal Medicine Classic) (compiled between 104-32 BC) is the seed work of traditional Chinese medicine and the earliest medical exposure to acupuncture. The chapter entitled “Regular watercourses (Jingshui)” specifically refers to the correspondences between the twelve ordinary meridians and the twelve major rivers in China. These rivers are located in the basins of the Changjiang River and the Yellow River.
Methods and terminology of flood control provide a vivid analogy with the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture. Blocks in these “energy rivers” act like dams, impede the flow of qi and blood and force it to maintain communication in communication channels. The eradication of acupuncture removes obstacles, curing the disease, restoring the regular flow of Qi and blood. Similarly, river dredging by cleaning sediments prevents flooding, allowing water to flow freely. Similar descriptions of flood control and acupuncture were used because acupuncture first appeared as a comprehensive healing system at the beginning of the Chinese Han dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD). Such hydraulic terminology was used not simply for its evocative images. Rather, it indicates an understanding reached by the Chinese ancestors by this time of correspondences between Nature and Man, the river and the meridian, floods and diseases.
3. Dredging, not Diking: non-parallel development of flood control achieved by Chinese ancestors
China is located on the inviolability and steep continental slope, unlike any other in the world. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, located in the western part of China, is the highest and geologically the youngest plateau on Earth. It is known as the "Roof of the World" with an average altitude of 4000-4500 meters. A Chinese proverb says: "The higher the mountain towers, the higher the water rises." The vast and cloud-kissed Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is the largest and tallest tower of natural water on Earth, snow deposition precipitated from the water vapor emitted by the world and # 39; s oceans and seas. As the compacted snow melts under the sun, drop by drop, the discharged water flows naturally to the east and accumulates into tiny streams, which then converge into powerful streams that have emptied back into the ocean.
The longest rivers in China, the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, occur on the summits of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They are important for the development of agriculture and population growth through China. But because of the huge drop in height from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to sea level, the water in these rivers flows very quickly and can easily cause flooding. The Yellow River, the river of the world, is especially notorious for its devastating floods.
The name Yellow River refers to the huge amounts of yellow silt, or loess soil, which it carries. Loess formations are extremely vulnerable to water erosion. As the Yellow River makes its way through the Loess Plateau in northwestern China, the raging torr picks up yellow mud in unusually large quantities and sweeps it downstream. As the river reaches flatter areas, the flow slows down, precipitating a huge amount of yellow silt and raising the river bed.
Attracted by the fertile lands of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the prehistoric ancient Chinese settled along their banks to create a culture based on planting, fishing and hunting. However, these pioneers were soon exceeded on the river and intercepted flooding. In the early stages, they may have remained on natural or artificial elevations or led nomadic lives to avoid flooding, and also pleaded supernatural forces for help. But as their population increased, they had no choice but to strive to harness the power of the river.
This defining aspect of Chinese culture is reflected in one of China’s oldest and most popular legends — the story of how Great Yu controlled flooding. It is said that during the Wudi or Five Emperors period (approximately 2700-2000 BC), severe flooding spread throughout the country and brought people a great catastrophe. Emperor Yao appointed his minister with a Pistol to use the river and control the waters. However, Gun’s attempts to discourage flooding by building dams and dykes failed. The youngest son Yu was appointed as the next emperor Shun (circa 2100 BC) to continue the work of his father. After making a lesson from the failure of his father, Yu noticed and took advantage of the downward flow of water. He washed the canals according to the physical features of the terrain in order to finally bring the water to the sea. After thirteen years of hard work, the streams subsided.
It may be difficult to separate the fact from the legend in the case of the Great Yu, but the Chinese story of flood control is indisputable. The most valuable principle that the ancient Chinese learned from their work with flood control was that dredging or diversion of water naturally flows down, surpasses hikes or other attempts to prevent the passage of water.
Dujiang Canal (Dujiang Yan), the most famous water project in ancient China and the entire ancient world, is a prime example of the use of dredging and water intake for flood control. Completed in 256 BC, approximately simultaneously with the advent of acupuncture, the Dujiang canal represents the peak of ancient Chinese hydraulic engineering. It still plays an important role in flood control, irrigation and shipping to date. In 2000, the world's oldest water project, the Dujiang Canal, was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The long history and unique mastery of flood control, achieved by Chinese ancestors, an example of which is the Dujiang Canal, was a direct result of the geographical conditions they encountered. Destructive floods are depicted in the myths and legends of many ancient peoples, for example, the story of Noah and the Flood in the Bible. However, there are no legends about flood control. This is a direct result of the physical environment of these ancient peoples.
Egypt depended on the Nile River both in antiquity and in our time. Like a silver band, the Nile flows through the Sahara Desert, creating a corridor of life. Water is priceless in the desert, creating oases wherever it appears. For the Egyptians, the annual flood of the Nile is a blessing rather than a catastrophe, irrigation and fertilization of the agricultural lands of the Nile Valley. This annual flow is so important for survival that the ancient Egyptians viewed it as an annual update of the first act of creation. If the waters had not risen high enough to limit the surrounding agricultural land to water and fertilizer, alluvial soil, then hunger would have gone.
Therefore, the ancient Egyptians never developed methods of dealing with floods, and actually prayed for the flood if it did not happen on time. Believing that the god of the Nile Hapi controlled the floods, they celebrated the annual Hapi Arrival and worshiped him with offers, hoping that the Nile would rise enough to provide water and sludge for agricultural land.
Two rivers, the Yellow River and the Nile River bring different gifts to their residents. While the flood of the Nile River fertilizes agricultural land in Egypt directly, the Chinese Tribulation inspired the ancient people to create a unique treatment method.
4. Cleaning the meridians with needles: using the laws of nature to treat diseases of the human body
The fundamental concept of Chinese philosophy is “The Unity of Mankind and Heaven.” This means that humanity, society and nature form an integrated system and that each part is simply composed and regulated by the same laws. Laozi (c. 6th century BC), the founder of Taoism, states: "Humanity is modeled by the Earth, the Earth is modeled in Heaven, the heavens are modeled by Tao, and Tao is nature itself."
This holistic thinking model was widely used in the field of medicine. Early Chinese doctors were also philosophers. They believed that the processes of the human body can be understood by observing and analyzing the phenomenon of the Universe, and that disorders of Humanity can be managed using the principles of Nature. Therefore, they believed that doctors should not only study the human body, but also should "know the sky above and below the Earth."
The ancient Chinese medical philosophers understood that, since rivers and meridians are similar in structure, the flow of water in rivers and the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians follow the same rules, and that their disorders can be previously simply controlled, If the river path dries up, the water in the river, which by nature flows down, overflows and leads to flooding. If the meridian is difficult, the qi and blood that it carries, which by nature flows along a circular path, will become stagnant and various disorders can occur. Therefore, the healers of the human body cleaned the meridians, pierced the needles to promote the flow of Qi and blood and cure the disease, just like the healers of the Earth dug river courses using peaks and spades to direct the water and control the flood.
Twelve regular meridians are distributed throughout the body, forming a network that connects the upper and lower, as well as internal and external, into an organic whole. Qi and blood flow through the meridians to nourish the entire body. In addition, certain areas, called Caves of Qi (qixue) or acupuncture points, are located on the skin along the paths of the meridians. These areas are often located in small depressions, usually between muscles, tendons, bones, or bony holes. When a person is ill, the flow of Qi and blood slows down, trying to stagnate on the indentations that lead to obstruction of the meridians. Inserting small needles at these points can effectively promote the flow of Qi and blood and remove obstacles, promoting healing.
Cleaning the meridians of the human body with a needle to ensure the free circulation of body energy is a direct application of the central principle of effective flow control - encouraging the desired flow by cleaning the channels, rather than building barriers.
The authors of Neijing express the correspondence between flood control and acupuncture in this way: “Those who understand the laws of nature dig up a pond at the lowest point, so that the water inside the pond can be drained and hard work avoided. the same logic, they unload the meridians in the acupuncture points, cave depressions, where Qi and blood deposits. Thus, the meridians can be released with ease. "
5. Acupuncture: a true symbol of traditional Chinese culture
Rivers come from the mountains and descend into the sea. Soil erosion in the upper reaches is the main cause of flooding, therefore the most effective means of combating floods is to preserve water and soil in the upper reaches. Meridians arise at the ends of the extremities and end at the abdomen, chest and head. Therefore, when using acupuncture to treat a disease, the headache is not appreciated because of the need for the head, but rather because of the need for the legs. Acupuncture, in using the laws of Nature to treat diseases of the human body, offers a visible expression of the concepts of the Chinese philosophy of the Holocaust. A practice that requires the lower body to cure the upper part, and to heal the outer, to heal the inner, is nothing but the appearance of holism.
Иглоукалывание развилось в полную форму не позднее 2-го века до нашей эры, примерно в то же самое время, когда китайские древние усовершенствовали свои принципы борьбы с наводнениями в великом проекте водохранилища Дуцзянского канала. Так же, как вода всегда течет вниз, теория и практика иглоукалывания никогда не претерпевали фундаментальных изменений. С момента своего создания удовлетворительные результаты были достигнуты путем прокалывания одних и тех же сайтов с использованием тех же инструментов.
Игла иглоукалывания может показаться неромантической, но она представляет собой суть традиционной китайской культуры. Иглоукалывание - это не просто исцеляющее искусство, а жизнеспособный символ тысячелетней китайской культуры.
Иглоукалывание является уникальным, оригинальным и представительным. Акупунктура не только иллюстрирует высоту традиционной китайской культуры, но ее дальнейшее использование в течение тысяч лет подтверждает ценность китайских целостных принципов, которые она воплощает. Стабильность и жизнеспособность иглоукалывания демонстрируют, почему китайская цивилизация переживает более пяти тысяч лет.
6. Иглоукалывание: более 1500 лет глобализации
Мировое распространение акупунктуры можно разделить на четыре этапа. Иглоукалывание распространилось по меньшей мере на 140 стран и районов до настоящего времени.
Первый этап: к 6 веку нашей эры иглоукалывание начало распространяться на соседние земли Кореи, Вьетнама и Японии. В частности, в Японии основные тексты акупунктуры были импортированы, поглощены и изучены с большой осторожностью.
541 г. н.э. Китайские практикующие отправляются в Корею китайским правительством.
552 г. н.э.: Император Китая представляет Японию копию «Классики акупунктуры» (раздел «Классика внутренней медицины желтого императора» (Huangdi Neijing).
562 г. н.э.: Преподобный Чжи Конг представляет Руководство по каналам и акупунктам (Mingtang Tu) и систематическую классику акупунктуры и прижигания (Zhenjiu Jiayijing) в Корею и Японию.
754 г. н.э.: Цзянь Чжэнь, высокопоставленный чиновник династии Тан (618-907 гг. Н.э.), пересекает море в Японию, чтобы обнародовать буддизм и китайскую медицину.
Второй этап: к 12-ому столетию нашей эры иглоукалывание начало проникать на Ближний Восток через Шелковый путь.
Третий этап: к концу 1500 года до начала 1600 года иглоукалывание было отправлено в Европу через Японию и морской шелковый путь, переданный иезуитами в частности.
1671 г. н.э.: Хэрвье, монах-иезуит, производит первый французский перевод работы по акупунктуре, когда он возвращается во Францию из Макао и Пекина.
1683 г. н.э.: голландский физик Виллем Тен Рейн, который посетил Нагасаки в Японии в начале XVII века, публикует «Диссертации де Артрид»: латинскую диссертацию по акупунктуре в Мантиссе, посвященную акупунктуре, и изобретает европейский термин «иглоукалывание». "
1810 г. н.э .: Первое записанное использование иглоукалывания в Европе происходит в Парижской школе медицины, когда д-р Берлиоз использует его для лечения молодой женщины, страдающей от боли в животе. Парижское медицинское общество описывает это как несколько безрассудную форму лечения.
1823 год: Иглоукалывание упоминается в первом издании «Ланцет».
Четвертый этап: с начала 1970-х годов иглоукалывание сильно распространилось по всему миру, чему способствовал исторический визит Никсона в Китай и популяризированный Всемирной организацией здравоохранения (ВОЗ).
1971: Джеймс Рестон сообщает о своем опыте иглоукалывания в Пекине в New York Times. Эта статья представляет собой первую новость об акупунктуре, чтобы связаться с англоязычными гражданами Соединенных Штатов или, по крайней мере, подавляющее большинство, которые не имеют ежедневных контактов с азиатами.
1973: Американский журнал акупунктуры начинает публикацию, играя важную роль в клинической практике и изучении акупунктуры на Западе.
1976: д-р Брюс Померанц, профессор кафедры зоологии Университета Торонто, публикует оригинальную статью, в которой говорится, что анальгезия в акупунктуре опосредована эндорфинами. Его исследования являются первыми, кто использует западную научную парадигму, чтобы объяснить, почему работает акупунктура.
1979 год. В Пекине проходит международная конференция по акупунктуре, прижиганию и акупунктурной анестезии, спонсируемая ВОЗ, в которой принимают участие представители двенадцати стран. Его цель - обсудить пути определения приоритетов и стандартов иглоукалывания в областях клинической практики, исследований, обучения и передачи технологии. Конференция составляет предварительный список болезней, которые предоставляют им лечение иглоукалыванием.
1987: Всемирная федерация акупунктурных обществ (WFAS) основана в Пекине. Сегодня ВФАС имеет 76 филиалов, представляющих более 70 000 членов из 43 стран и регионов.
1997: Национальный институт здоровья (NIH) Соединенных Штатов признает эффективность иглоукалывания при лечении ряда заболеваний.
1998: Журнал Американской медицинской ассоциации (JAMA) запускает колонку, посвященную альтернативной и взаимодополняющей терапии.
2000: Британская медицинская ассоциация (BMA) представляет доклад об акупунктуре и заключает, что акупунктура безопасна и эффективна для лечения ряда заболеваний и расстройств.
