The first use of a term like acupuncture is atributed to an european jesuit priest that, upon returning from China, in the xviith century, adapted the chinese characters Zhen Jiu to a latin expression, by combining the words acum (neeedle) e punctum ou pungere (punction). A literal translation would be needle (Zhen) – cauterizing (Jiu). The later translation causes the impression that the CM doctor only uses needles. Jiu means cauterizing because, traditionally, the method includes the combustion of prepared mugwort leafs over specific acupoints. This method is yet used in China, with very good results. In the West, this is rarely done, and the combustion never cauterizes the skin, for aesthetic reasons.
Moxibustion derives from the japanese term mogusa – moxa, meaning mugwort. Moxa is prepared from the sun dried leafs of Artemisiae Argyi. The chinese name for the plant is Ai Rong.
Historically, the first atribute of acupuncture recorded by the scientific community was in pain control. Schemes were created, associating the release of endorphins caused by needle stimulation over specific nerves.
Although many field specialists doubt the validity of such a method, one cannot ignore large amount evidence produced with valid western methodologies, or the fact that surgeries can be performed under the anesthesia of insertion of a few needles.
