Acupuncture Intangible Cultural Heritage

By Y.C. Chan, OMD, Dipl Ac

Acupuncture Clinic of Maryland

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Acupuncture Intangible Cultural Heritage

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) announced that Chinese acupuncture is one of the new items added to the intangible cultural heritages of humanity among the world. The UNESCO was established in 1945, and began a non-material values division in 2003. This new creation is in order to preserve the importance of cultural heritage monuments.

The UNESCO Committee maintains a list of historical practices from around the world that contribute to spreading the knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and promoting awareness of its importance. The UNESCO selection committee protects the preservation of non-material culture that includes traditions, education, history, skills, crafts, etc. The UNESCO selected 40 winners from more than 100 applicants around the world during its conference in Nairobi, Kanya on November 16, 2010. Acupuncture was the only item that related to the healing arts.

Acupuncture has been used to treat a wide range of medical disorders in more than 160 countries. UNESCO's goal is to spread knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and to ensure its preservation for future generation.

More than one century ago, after the scientific revolution, acupuncture was excluded from mainstream practice in China. Due to political influence and government policy conventional medicine adopted the authority of science, but still retained the importance of personal experience. Clinical studies continued to emphasize personal experience until World War II.

In the United States of America, the FDA investigated acupuncture needles' safety and efficacy from 1973 until 1996 to get the final conclusion. Although the acupuncture mechanism theory still was not entirely explained scientifically, patient and public demand, as well as several thousand years of historical evidences assisted the FDA's decision. Additionally, acupuncture law passed almost throughout all states in the U.S. and has had significant impact for the development of acupuncture around the entire world.

Top priority will be made to continue studies of acupuncture in the future. The followings are important issues acupuncture results must be measured scientifically; acupuncture dose must be sufficient in the study trails; acupuncturists must be well trained; and sham acupuncture must be legitimated and well designed. From a professional perspective, scientists, scholars, educators and acupuncture specialists, regardless of nationality, religion, race, sex, color, language, government, and political preferences, should work together for the benefits of all mankind in the generations to come.