History of Acupuncture

The first written account of acupuncture treatment occurs in the Shi Ji -'Historical records' - (c, 200 BC) which tells of Bia Que, a doctor in the fourth century BC, who was famous for bringing a prince out of a coma by means of acupuncture.

Bia Que also systematized the Four Methods of Diagnosis: Observing; Listening and Smelling; Asking; and Touching.

The origins of acupuncture are impossible to define because they lie in periods before recorded history.

Stone needles have been found in ancient tombs in Inner Mongolia, dating from the Neolithic Era (c. 2,500 BC). Bronze, gold and silver needles have been recovered from later tombs.

Writings on silk scrolls describing 11 channels met their treatment with moxibustion have been found in tombs dating from the Han dynasty (c, 200 BC).