Introduction to Neijing Classical Acupuncture Part I: History and Basic Principles
First published in
JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE
Number 100 (October 2012)
Classical Chinese medical texts represent the foundation for all traditional Chinese medical theories and practices. Written over two thousand years ago, these documents set forth and define the basic principles of Chinese medicine and the clinical practice of acupuncture. They represent a critical and comprehensive resource for the modern practitioner. Despite their importance, the fundamental principles contained within these texts remain poorly understood and rarely used in modern clinical practice. This two-part series examines the basic principles and theories of classical acupuncture as originally described within the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) Suwen (Plain Questions) and Lingshu (Divine Pivot). Part I reviews the historical background and some basic principles of these texts. Part II presents an introduction to the clinical principles of classical acupuncture. The ideas contained within these texts represent a powerful theoretical and clinical framework that have the potential to reinvigorate the practice of Chinese medicine.
