Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy is a unique therapeutic method created by the ancient working people of China. Its characteristic is that it treats diseases without medication; instead, it involves inserting needles into specific parts of the patient’s body or using the warm stimulation of fire to cauterize local areas, so as to achieve the purpose of treating diseases. The former is called acupuncture, the latter is called moxibustion, and together they are referred to as acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.
The predecessor of acupuncture is stone needle therapy. Bian stone is a stone-made medical tool used in the Neolithic Age. Moxibustion was also used to treat diseases in the Neolithic Age. After the Zhou Dynasty, metal needles for acupuncture began to appear in China. Gold needles for acupuncture were unearthed from the Western Han Dynasty tomb in Mancheng, Hebei. For thousands of years, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has always been an important therapeutic method in Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has many advantages: First, it has a wide range of indications and can be used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, the five sense organs department and other disciplines; Second, its therapeutic effect on diseases is relatively rapid and significant, especially with good effects of stimulating bodily functions, enhancing disease resistance, sedation and analgesia; Third, its operation method is simple and easy to perform; Fourth, the medical cost is economical; Fifth, it has no or minimal side effects, is basically safe and reliable, and can be used in combination with other therapies for comprehensive treatment. These are also the reasons why it has always been popular among the people.
Development of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy
As early as more than 2,000 years ago, physicians in China had systematically summarized the clinical experience of acupuncture and moxibustion. For example, in 1973, various medical books compiled during the Zhou Dynasty were discovered in the Han tombs at Mawangdui, Changsha, Hunan Province. Among them, *The Meridian Moxibustion Classic of the Foot and Arm* and *The Meridian Moxibustion Classic of Yin and Yang* recorded that various local symptoms along the meridian courses, such as pain, spasm, numbness, swelling, as well as symptoms of organs like the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and some systemic symptoms such as restlessness, drowsiness, aversion to cold, were all treated with moxibustion.
Later, in *Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon)*, a medical book from the Warring States Period, indications for acupuncture and moxibustion were described in various aspects, and the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for various zang-fu organ diseases, febrile diseases, malaria, carbuncles and ulcers, etc., was further discussed, which expanded the scope of indications for acupuncture and moxibustion.
*Huangdi Neijing* also provided detailed introductions to some techniques used in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, such as reinforcing and reducing techniques in acupuncture, contralateral needling on the left and right sides of the body (referred to as “Great Contralateral Needling” and “Contralateral Needling for Superficial Patterns”), as well as other techniques with different names.
At that time, there were many physicians proficient in acupuncture and moxibustion, and Bian Que recorded in *Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian)* was one of them. According to legend, when Bian Que was practicing medicine across various regions, he arrived at the State of Guo (present-day Baoji area in Shaanxi Province) and heard that the crown prince of Guo had just died of illness. Bian Que and his students rushed to the palace gate, inquired about the prince’s condition, and learned that the prince had not been dead for long. Based on his medical experience, he voluntarily proposed that he could revive the prince. When the Lord of Guo heard this, he hurriedly invited Bian Que to treat the prince. After careful diagnosis including observing the complexion, inquiring about symptoms, and feeling the pulse, Bian Que confirmed that the prince was suffering from “corporeal syncope” (similar to shock) rather than actual death. Bian Que used acupuncture and other medical methods for rescue, and soon the prince regained consciousness and recovered his health. This incident was widely praised by the people at that time, who said he could bring the dead back to life.
The above shows that as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy was not only quite popular but also had greatly improved in medical quality.
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, two relatively systematic specialized books on acupuncture and moxibustion appeared in China successively, namely *Huangdi Mingtang Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Acupuncture Points)* from the transition period of Qin and Han, and *Zhenjiu Yijing (A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion)* from the Three Kingdoms Period. These works further summarized the experience of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. In particular, they organized and summarized the acupoint selection for each disease and the range of indications for each acupoint, which had a great influence on the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in later generations. In addition, some works with illustrated acupuncture acupoints also emerged at this time.
In the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui and Tang Dynasties, not only did the number of acupuncture and moxibustion works increase greatly, but their contents also became more rich and diverse. In addition, there were many colored acupuncture wall charts, acupuncture atlases, specialized books on moxibustion, and veterinary acupuncture works. For example, the medical works of famous Tang Dynasty physicians such as Sun Simiao and Wang Tao all recorded acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in detail. Sun Simiao also drew three large-scale colored acupuncture wall charts, depicting the twelve meridians on the front, back, and sides of the human body in five colors, and the eight extraordinary meridians in green. Wang Tao divided them into twelve large-scale colored wall charts, also depicting the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary meridians in different colors. At that time, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, like other medical disciplines, was officially included in the national medical education curriculum, with *Huangdi Neijing*, *Huangdi Mingtang Jing* and other books clearly designated as teaching materials. The Imperial Medical Academy also set up specific positions such as Doctor of Acupuncture, Assistant Doctor of Acupuncture, Acupuncture Master, Acupuncture Technician, and Acupuncture Student. All these indicate that acupuncture and moxibustion had developed to a quite high level at that time.
From the Tang Dynasty to modern times, Chinese physicians continued to compile a large number of acupuncture and moxibustion works. Famous ones include *Tongren Xuexue Zhenjiu Tujing (Illustrated Classic of Acupuncture Points on the Bronze Figure)* compiled under the supervision of Wang Weiyi, an imperial physician of the Northern Song Dynasty, and *Zhenjiu Dacheng (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion)* by Yang Jizhou of the Ming Dynasty, which are both works of considerable academic value and wide circulation.
To make acupuncture illustrations more realistic and three-dimensional, while compiling *Tongren Xuexue Zhenjiu Tujing* in the 5th year of Tiansheng Reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty (1027 AD), Wang Weiyi also supervised the production of the earliest two bronze human models engraved with meridians and acupoints in the Imperial Medical Academy, called bronze acupuncture figures. These bronze figures were not only used for teaching and learning to identify acupoints but also for examinations. It is said that during acupuncture examinations, the bronze figure was first coated with wax all over its body, filled with mercury inside, and then dressed in clothes. Doctors were asked to perform needling. If the acupoint was accurately pierced, mercury would shoot out; if the acupoint was incorrectly located, the needle could not penetrate. It can be seen that the bronze acupuncture figure was a realistic and exquisitely structured teaching tool. Later, many bronze acupuncture figures were successively made in China, including those made by the Imperial Medical Institutes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, folk physicians, and pharmacies. All of them played a certain role in promoting acupuncture teaching. Unfortunately, many of the bronze acupuncture figures in the past were either destroyed in wars or plundered during imperialist invasions of China. For example, the “Zhengtong” bronze figure supervised and produced by the Imperial Medical Institute in the 8th year of Zhengtong Reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty (1443 AD) was looted by the Russian army when the Eight-Nation Alliance occupied Beijing in the 26th year of Guangxu Reign of the Qing Dynasty (1900 AD) and is still stored in the Museum of Leningrad (now renamed St. Petersburg).
■The “Zhengtong” bronze acupuncture figure replicated in the Qing Dynasty.
Chinese physicians of successive dynasties also made many improvements to the tools and techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, created a variety of needling methods (such as fire needle, warm needle, plum-blossom needle, etc.), developed moxibustion methods (such as some medicated cake moxibustion, lampwick moxibustion, etc.) and moxa rolls (such as the so-called “Thunder Fire Needle”, “Taiyi Needle”, etc.), constantly enriching the content of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.
The meridian theory is the theoretical foundation of acupuncture and moxibustion.
The remarkable efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating various diseases is not only due to the mechanical stimulation of acupuncture and the thermal stimulation of moxibustion, which can directly regulate bodily functions and enhance disease prevention, but also relates to the specific stimulation sites of acupuncture and the body’s conductive responses induced by it. This is the unique meridian theory in traditional Chinese medicine, a significant achievement of ancient Chinese medicine.
The meridian theory is the result of ancient people’s deepening understanding of the human body through long-term medical practice.
In ancient medical texts from the Zhou Dynasty unearthed from the Mawangdui Han tomb in Changsha, some primitive names of human meridians are recorded, such as “tooth meridian,” “ear meridian,” and “shoulder meridian.” These names were based on the main pathways of sensory conduction observed during needling of these meridians, representing the rudimentary form of the meridian theory. The ancient medical text “Foot-Arm Eleven Meridian Moxibustion Classic” began to classify the human meridians into eleven types, and based on the concepts of upper and lower limbs and yin-yang theory, redefined the names of meridians, systematically categorizing and recording them.
In the “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic,” the main meridians of the human body were further summarized into twelve, known as the twelve regular meridians. It also comprehensively revised and supplemented the pathways of each meridian and their relationship with diseases and treatments, enriching the meridian theory and laying the theoretical foundation of acupuncture and moxibustion.
The basic content of the meridian theory is as follows: The meridians and collaterals pervade all parts of the human body, responsible for transporting qi and blood throughout the body and connecting internal and external, upper and lower regions. The meridians are not only distributed on the body surface but also enter the interior to connect with organs, circulating endlessly in a cycle. Among them, the main trunks running directly are called meridians, while the lateral branches and smaller branches are called collaterals and subcollaterals. Additionally, there are names such as the eight extraordinary meridians beyond the twelve regular meridians.
Based on the meridian theory, acupoints were further developed. Acupoints are also called “pores” or “points.” Each acupoint is located on the body surface at a specific site. Since the acupoints recorded in texts like the “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic” are all situated along the pathways of meridians, they are also known as “meridian points.” Taking the “A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion” as an example, it records a total of 654 meridian points.
Over the centuries, Chinese medical practitioners not only deepened their understanding of the functions of acupoints, their connections with organs, and their range of indications but also successively discovered many new points, providing more effective therapeutic approaches.
The Spread of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy
Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has not only had a significant impact on domestic medical care but has also spread to many countries worldwide, making substantial contributions to human health and the development of medical science.
As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, China engaged in friendly trade and cultural exchanges with Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Central Asian regions. At the same time, Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, was correspondingly disseminated to these countries and regions, receiving considerable attention from their governments and peoples. For example, in Japan, during the twelfth year of the Tianjian reign of Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (AD 513), the Chinese physician Yang Er went to Japan to teach medicine. In the first year of the Dabao reign of Emperor Jianwen of Liang (AD 550), a man named Wu Ren Zhicong took a large number of Chinese medical books and acupuncture charts to Japan. In the first year of the Chengsheng reign of Emperor Yuan of Liang (AD 552), the Emperor of Liang presented the Japanese government with the book “Needle Classic.” Subsequently, many Japanese came to China to study medicine and delve into acupuncture and moxibustion. In the Japanese law “Taihō Code” promulgated in AD 701, modeled after the Tang Dynasty system, it was explicitly stipulated that texts such as the “Yellow Emperor’s Mingtang Classic” and the “A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion” were required courses for studying medicine and acupuncture, along with corresponding measures. This led to significant development of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in Japan, resulting in many renowned acupuncturists, works, and specialized schools.
Similarly, in ancient Korea, states such as Silla, Baekje, and Goryeo, following the Tang Dynasty imperial examination system, prescribed various study subjects, including medicine. For instance, in AD 1136, the Goryeo government officially mandated that ancient Chinese medical texts like the “Needle Classic,” “Yellow Emperor’s Mingtang Classic,” and “A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion” be compulsory courses for studying medicine and acupuncture.
After the Song and Yuan dynasties, with the development of maritime shipping, China increasingly interacted with Africa and Europe. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy was gradually introduced to these regions. At that time, medical scholars in countries such as England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria began to apply acupuncture and moxibustion in clinical practice and research, while also translating some Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion works.
New Developments in Acupuncture and Moxibustion
After liberation, under the advocacy of the Party and government, close collaboration between traditional Chinese and Western medicine led to a leap in the development of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. The clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion became more widespread, and on the basis of traditional acupuncture and moxibustion, many new therapeutic methods were created, such as electroacupuncture, ear acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, acupoint injection, acupoint ligation, and magnetic acupoint therapy. These further expanded the scope and research topics of acupuncture and moxibustion. In particular, the success of acupuncture anesthesia opened a new pathway in the field of anesthesiology.
Acupuncture anesthesia is a method that fully utilizes the anesthetic effect of acupuncture as a substitute for drug anesthesia during medical surgeries. This method not only avoids the side effects of anesthetics but is also simple, safe, and conducive to the recovery of patients’ health after surgery. Moreover, because acupuncture anesthesia can be widely applied to various major and minor surgeries involving the head, neck, chest, abdominal cavity, and limbs, providing effective pain relief and analgesia, it has attracted great attention from medical communities both domestically and internationally and has been rapidly promoted and applied.
Now, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy is valued and used by people across the five continents, becoming a powerful weapon for humanity in combating diseases.
Acupuncture and moxibustion, core components of traditional Chinese medicine, have gained global recognition for their therapeutic benefits. The foundation lies in the meridian theory, which explains the flow of qi through specific pathways in the body. Modern practitioners target precise acupuncture points to restore balance and promote health. One remarkable innovation is acupuncture anesthesia, which allows patients to undergo surgery without chemical drugs, reducing side effects. The historical depth of this practice, including the legendary bronze acupuncture figure used in ancient exams, adds to its credibility. Understanding the history of acupuncture reveals centuries of refinement in treating ailments. Today, millions seek the health benefits of acupuncture, particularly acupuncture for pain relief, as a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals. Whether for chronic pain or stress, this time-tested therapy continues to evolve, offering safe and effective solutions.