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New Technology Confirms Ancient Traditions
Acupuncture first gained attention in the U.S. during the Nixon era, when a New York Times reporter underwent an emergency appendectomy in China. Rather than standard anesthesia, he received acupuncture for the pain, and went on to write about his experience upon returning to the U.S. For many, this was the first time ever hearing about acupuncture. Since the 1970's, acupuncture has become increasingly more popular in the U.S. In fact, acupuncture is now considered an essential health benefit according to the Affordable Care Act and often covered by insurance.
The first evidence of acupuncture dates back to primitive times, where relics of stone needles, hieroglyphs and pictographs suggest using pointed stones to heal illness. The earliest written record of acupuncture dates back thousands of years to China, when the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine) was written.
In the Neijing, Huang Di (The Yellow Emperor) offers practical advice on how to maintain balance by living according to the laws of nature. He explains how our way of life and our environment affect our health. During this time period, acupuncture meridians, upon which acupuncture points are found, began to be mapped and recorded.
In recent years, researchers have been searching for ways to determine how the ancient art and science of acupuncture works using randomized-controlled studies. In a study published in the Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, new technology is being used to map acupuncture points and meridians. Using a new combination of imaging techniques, including radiology and CT scans, clear distinctions between acupuncture points and non-acupuncture points have been revealed.
According to the study, “acupuncture points were shown to have very distinct structural differences than surrounding areas.”
In a related study, oxygen micro-sensors were used to reveal variations in partial oxygen pressure along the surface of the skin corresponding to acupuncture points first discovered by the Chinese thousands of years ago, without the use of modern technology.
Several additional studies have been conducted using MRI, ultrasound, and other imaging techniques, all confirming similar findings that acupuncture points and meridians are scientifically measureable phenomena in repeated experiments, and can now be “seen” using modern technology.
