Acupuncture as a method of treatment of mans' illnesses is know to have its origin amongst the ancient Chinese possibly as long ago as 4,500 years - before recorded history. Early evidence of this development of acupuncture consists of diagrams of human and animal bodies with acupuncture points identified and ancient implements used in its application.

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine is often cited as the definitive history of acupuncture but was probably a compilation of observations and documents over centuries. It is thought to have been written between 300 - 400 BC. Primitive forms of acupuncture started when people began using small sharp stones to pierce or press the skin. Bone needles replaced this and when metals were discovered, gold and silver were used.

Many myths have survived to partly explain some of the observations as the secrets of acupuncture have been slowly unraveled.

Thousands of years of observing the cause and effect of using and refining these techniques of stimulating specific areas of the body to give therapeutic affect have survived into the 20 th century. The Chinese have continued to embrace acupuncture as a major plank to their public health program such as witnessed with the training of Bare Foot Doctors to provide low cost acceptable medical care to the millions of Chinese in rural China.
With the opening up of China to the western world the "art of acupuncture" has been subjected to intense western scientific scrutiny. Research demonstrated that acupuncture relieved pain in rats and rabbits, thus dispelling any contention that acupuncture was purely a placebo effect on humans.

Western doctors have been studying the ancient art now for 30 years, integrating it into western medical culture as have the Chinese been accepting western method into theirs.

Dramatic demonstrations of anaesthesia under acupuncture to perform complicated major surgery provides the most convincing proof of its efficacy. The major benefits of acupuncture though are good health maintenance and providing relief for painful conditions.

Such a large impact has this "discovery" of a natural ancient healing art had on the western world with its scientific validation that it is now practiced along side of traditional western medicine in most western countries. It is also included as part of the undergraduate training at many western medical schools.

The beneficial effects of acupuncture are far-reaching and can be categorized into six different effects. The best known of these and most spectacularly demonstrated is analgesia (pain relief) which is achieved by raising the pain threshold. Surgical operations e.g. appendectomy, caesarean section, facial surgery were in the past routinely carried out in China using acupuncture alone. Today it is more likely that modern anaesthetic is performed due to its improved efficacy. However in conjunction with acupuncture the amount of pharmacological agent is minimized.

Secondly, sedation occurs which is useful for the treatment of anxiety states, addictions etc.

A third most important effect is to adjust homeostasis of the body. Homeostasis is the term to explain the balance or equilibrium between opposing control systems of bodily functions i.e. so that blood pressure is controlled, body temperature controlled, respiration rate maintained etc.

In many diseases this balance is temporarily deranged and acupuncture is helpful in restoring the body to the original state of equilibrium.

There is an immune enhancing action of acupuncture, whereby body resistance to disease is strengthened. Reliance on anti-biotics can be lessened. Similarly there is an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy effect.

The success rate of acupuncture treatment is generally found to be 80-85%, with 15% of the population not responding. However for the 85% majority it provides a non-drug option for the management of numerous physical conditions.

The gate control theory of pain was the first scientific theory advanced for the mechanism of action of acupuncture. That is, by stimulating nerve fibres adjacent to an area eliciting pain, a pain blocking action is effected at the spinal cord i.e. the fibres registering pain are inhibited in transmitting their message to the brain. However, this theory only partly explained the phenomena.

Further it was realized that several hormones (chemicals) produced by areas of the brain also had a role to play. These have subsequently been named endorphins and encephalins which are the body's own opiate (morphine-like) hormones. Morphine is the most powerful analgesic known to man and so it is understandable that by stimulating the secretion of the body's own morphine-like substances in the brain such a profound effect as to allow major surgery to be performed can be experienced.

This mechanism of action helps to explain why acupuncture stimulation of a point far removed from the source of pain is effective.

These discoveries have all involved extensive research on animals and humans, so the theory that hypnosis plays a role can be discounted. Other chemical transmitters shown to be affected by acupuncture treatment include dymorphia and serotonins.

The development of the system of points began with stimulating areas of the body which were uncomfortable. Because there were no specific locations for the points, they had no names. After a long period of observation of cause and effect certain points became identified with specific diseases.
As this correlation became established, names were assigned to individual points. Eventually these points were integrated into the Channel System which grouped points with similar functions.

So, by the year 300 AD, 95% of the acupuncture points known today had been represented systematically along 14 channels or meridians. Twelve of these channels are named after internal organs, e.g.. liver, gall bladder, heart, stomach, etc as shown on pages 16 and 17. The remaining two, the conception and governing channels are also shown.

More points were subsequently discovered which didn't conform to this system and these are called miscellaneous or off channel points.

The Ah-Shi (ah-yes) point, the 3rd type of point described with traditional acupuncture is the name given for what amounts to a trigger point. They are sites of the body which are spontaneously tender when disease or injury occurs. Their locations are not fixed.

Successful treatment with point stimulation utilizes a combination of all 3 types of points according to the condition. A few points are commonly used in many conditions whilst many are rarely used except perhaps by the most experienced acupuncturist.

For any one treatment session, a combination of usually 4 points at maximum are used. It is most desirable to use the minimum number of points possible.

In the treatment section which follows, the most commonly used points for each condition are recommended. Often there may also be supplementary points which with experience may also prove effective. A minimum of 3 or 4 hours should be allowed between each treatment as more frequent treatments will result in the body developing a tolerance to the acupuncture effect in the same way that it does to some drugs when taken continuously.

The intention of this book (comes with the unit!) is to provide an introduction to the ancient art of acupuncture and a guide to the treatment of some common conditions using an energy point stimulator rather than needles.

This stimulation of energy or Acupuncture points should not be viewed as a substitute for orthodox medicine but as a complimentary therapeutic option. One's usual medical adviser should continue to play that role and always be consulted if in any doubt.

The channels (or meridians) referred to earlier are shown in the diagrams on the following pages. (Remark: of the treatment manual)

All of these channels are paired - that is they are present on both sides of the body, left and right and points can both be used. In the diagrams where a point is shown on one side of the body a corresponding point exists on the other side of the body. The two extra channels are known as:

Governor Vessel or Du Channel - points listed as GV.. Conception Vessel or Ren Channel - points listed as CV..

These are unpaired channels - they run down the mid-line of the body, one on the front and one on the back.