Where did acupuncture come from and what is it based on?

Chinese medicine is one of the oldest medical systems in the world, dating as far back as 2000 B.C.—it includes many methods of treatment (herbs, cupping, moxibustion, diet/lifestyle, etc.) but the therapy most people associate with Chinese medicine is acupuncture. A few thousand years ago, pieces of stone or bone were used as acupuncture needles. Today, sterilized, disposable, very thin stainless steel needles are used. Acupuncture is based on the view that energy flows within a network of channels in the body the way water runs through streams. When the energy is blocked—if the river is obstructed by fallen trees or debris—the energy can’t flow smoothly and pain or dysfunction will result. ... more