1. Definition of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment
Acupuncture and moxibustion are traditional therapies rooted in Eastern medicine. This combined treatment uses acupuncture needles to stimulate specific points on the body, and moxibustion, which involves burning mugwort to apply warmth to these same points. The goal of these techniques is to restore the body’s natural energy balance, leading to the improvement of various conditions and the maintenance of good health.
2. History of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment
Acupuncture, a therapeutic practice with roots in ancient China, is first documented around the 3rd century BCE in the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine), a foundational text in Chinese medicine. From there, it spread throughout Asia, evolving uniquely in various regions.
It arrived in Japan around the 6th century CE and has continued to develop distinctively, persisting as a vital part of Japanese healthcare to this day. In recent years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged acupuncture’s effectiveness, leading to its growing recognition in Western countries as a prominent complementary and alternative medicine.
