Acupuncture in history
Evolution and development of acupuncture
With this work we intend to review, briefly and concisely the historical evolution and development of acupuncture. From the mythical origins to the present, from pre-scientific explanations that explained how they function and neurochemical theories that are opening hole to back up their therapeutic actions. The reason for the choice of subject is related to our own positive experience as patients and for lived, in some cases, his practice in the family. chose individualize acupuncture and traditional medicine in China because it is a technique, only treatment that can be separated from the doctrinal body of theoretical and Chinese medical system because, our opinion, is more scientific approach easy for the rest of the medical system.
Indeed all this accumulated knowledge to develop a true system allows caregivers, pathogenesis, clinical (an extremely precise semiology), diagnostic procedures, and so on. But as these, while interesting, are hardly affordable sometimes with scientific methodology, therapeutic techniques, especially acupuncture is relatively easy to verify. As a good medical system has different therapeutic techniques, both therapeutic and preventive as well as all systems that are related to natural medicine, there is a group of therapeutic techniques that are implemented by the therapist and other group which is given the responsibility for your health to the patient.
In the first group of techniques, which are prescribed and conducted by the therapist are particularly relevant:
1. Acupuncture and moxibustion.
2. Pharmacotherapy China (not only herbal remedies).
3. Massage therapy techniques (Tui-Na, An-Mo).
In the second group, which require a willingness by the patient:
1. Dietary and healthy lifestyle.
2. Exercises spiritual and bodily expression as Qicong concentration (Chi Kun) and Taijiquan (Tai Chi).
Access from the Western point of view of the traditional Chinese medicine (MTCh.) is found, usually a traumatic, with a particular set of medical practices that originated at least have little to do with the philosophical and scientific concepts of modern Western medicine. When delving into his study one finds surprises, there is a well-organized body of doctrine (the result of over two thousand years of experience) that makes possible a critical approach and learning. This has prompted several Western researchers and the field have published extensively trying to reconcile this conception of medicine with modern biology and physiology. The current medical science have demonstrated a number of effects of acupuncture grounded in experimentation and clinical evaluation of the results. Moreover, in recent years has regrown worldwide interest in the use and study of traditional medicine (alternative, complementary or unconventional). According to data from the WHO in China this medicine represents about 40% of all the attention and in countries like Germany and the United Kingdom, 70% and 90% respectively of pain clinics use acupuncture as a complementary technique in treatment.
Acupuncture owes much of its scientific respectability to the discovery that inserting and manipulating needles into certain points or areas of the body releases opioid peptides (Clement- Jones and cols.1979, 1980). In fact, we now know the biochemical responses to stimulation of acupuncture are many intervening significantly a large group of humoral mediators, immune and hormonal systems. Undoubtedly in neurobiology is the definitive explanation of the mechanism of action of acupuncture, but this does not mean that all the effects it produces are exclusively related to the central nervous system. Indeed current medical science have demonstrated a number of effects of acupuncture grounded in experimental and clinical evaluation of the results. Seems clear that integrity is required of both the cerebro-spinal nervous system and the autonomic nervous system that acupuncture is effective, does not imply that the answer is determined solely by the nerve pathway.
This mechanism of action with multiple agents involved makes there is a good field of medical research for the curious. So far there has been demonstrated and published references in this respect, biological effects of acupuncture on superoxide dismutase (SOD), the serotonin system, the central and peripheral acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, cyclic AMP, cortisol, enkephalins, endorphins and long list of neurotransmitters.