Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol.

XXV pp 216 to 225

mSTORICALINTRODUCfIONOF ACUPUNCTURE
IN INDIA
SOWED SUPERIOR SEED OF INTEGRATED MEDICINE
D.BAKSHI, B.MUKHERJEE, S. BASU, S.PAL & J.CHATTERJEE.*

ABSTRACT

Acupuncture, though originated in oriental countries in the ancient times but, its

philosophical understanding is amazingly wide open to the modern medical science.

Historically, records are there regarding its Indian origin. However, acupuncture

practised today in Indian sub-continent mainly shows Chinese origin and its

introduction to India was pioneered by Dr. BK Basu, the first Indian who learned

Chinese acupuncture from mainland China during 1959. It is interesting enough to

note that though acupuncture is successfully practised in India in a rejuvenated form

for the last few decades but due to lack of proper Governmental support this thereby

suffers from under utilization and under development. While WHO suggested for it's

wider application and development through concerted Governmental efforts.

Introduction community to study its history and philo-

Acupuncture originated in prehis- sophical dimensions in the context of
toric ages and evolved into its present further meaningful development and
form in the succeding centuries. The application in different socio-medical
wealth of records on acupuncture, setup.
both in East and in the West, belong to
this prescientific era. But scientific in- Origin of Acupuncture Various
vestigation of acupuncture has proved to School of thoughts
be worth elusive.' Generally known to us that acupunc-
Study reveals the controversy re- ture was originated in ancient Chlna''.
garding its origin but predominant prac- But there is controversy in this respect.
tree of Chinese acupuncture throughout Several records are there which justify
the world has attracted the scientific that acupuncture has been practised in

*Indian Research Institute for Integrated Medicine (IRIIM) Mourigram Stationpara, P.O.Unsani, Dist. Howrah
711302, West Bengal, India.
Bull. Ind. lnst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV 217

ancient Egypt,Persia, India etc. There surgery and so forth3•4• However, in In-
was vedic therapeutic methods of nee- ternational Medical scenerio the
dling in India date back to the ancient dominance Chinese acupuncture and
period . Many Chinese travellers had indomitable interest ofthe people regar-
come to India and written extensively ding its efficacy have forced the re-
about the local treatment practices. searchers to look into the depth of this
Some of the Indian erudites even said h6aling practice.
that people learnt acupuncture from In- Chinese Acupuncture: Passage to
dian experts in Takshashila University India
(circa 100 B.C). It has been said that Reports indicated that during 6th
ayurvedic texts consisted of acupunc- century, through the process of cultural
ture principles lost due to the then exchange between China and other
unfavourable circumstances in India. countries, acupuncture and moxibustion
Research reports stated that Buddhism were disseminated to South-East Asia
also utilized acupuncture and ayurveda, and the continent of India. Actually Mi
which were subsequently taught to Tibet- Yun from Dun Huang of Gansu province
ans. The Buddha was reportedly re- introduced the therapeutic methods
sponsible for writing various texts on and prescriptions of Hua, Tuo.the great
Indian medicine, which today the Tibetan man of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Buddhists jealously guard. There are and acupuncture, to Daochang state of
four Shastras or texts written by Budd- North India" But report regarding its
ha, in which the Fourth Shastra indeed subsequent cultivation in India is ob-
explains that Tibet received acupuncture scure. After a long gap of several cen-
and medicine from India. The Indian turies, again we note the reintroduction
Buddhist medicine centres around re- of Chinese acupuncture in India in the
storing and developing balance be- middle of 20th century through normal-
tween the three humours oalled Wind ization of India-China relation."
(Vata) , Bile(Pitta) and Phlegm (Kapha). Rejuvenation of Acupuncture in
Experienced Tibetan physicians have India: Historical role of Dr.B.K.Basu
used the system for more than thousand Through the pioneering role of Dr.
years. The Fourth Shastra of Buddha Bijoy Kr.Basu in 1959 Chinese acup-
dealt with acupuncture, moxibustion, uncture was reintroduced in India. Dr.
218 Historical Introduction of Acupuncture - Bakshi etal

Basu was a member of the historic Acupuncturists and Acupuncture

Indian Medical Mission to China (1938- Training in Modem India
1942)5. It was interesting to note that In 70's we mark the renewed inte-
though he was a student of modern rest of western medical wor1d in acu-
western medicine but had taken sin- puncture. Several research findingson
cere attempt in the development of fundamental aspects of acupuncture
this oriental healing art in his mother- appeared in the scientific literatures.
land. Dr. Basu was equally interested to Particular1y some important research
realize the inherent values of this Chi- propositions and findings of pain re-
nese classical therapeutic modality. So search like 'gate control theory', 'endor-
during his activity we note that he not only phin-enkephalin theory' of acupuncture
practised acupuncture as a therapy but analgesia and above all the favourable
also tried to inculcate some unique hu- theoretical paradigm of. modem physics
man and social values in medical prac- regarding complex systems and possible
tice which are essential functional com- correlations with philosophcal under-
ponent of any successful therapy. standing of Traditional Medicine gave
major boost to the international medical
In the advancement of acupuncture community and inevrtab!ythe India coun-
in India as usual he had given stress on terpart for acupuncture. In due course,
acupuncture training for both health besides socially motivated acupuncture
workers and qualified doctors. It is fact health worker, various medical gradu-.
that in the development of acupuncture ates became interested in acupuncture
health worker he was moved with the and started to practice of it as a system
concept of barefoot doctor of China." of therapy or as an adjunct to other
Through his continuou inspiration and therapeutic modalities. 5

active guidance medicos and health In India. acupuncture is practised

workers of different social service or- mainly by medical graduates and trai-
ganizations like Peoples' Relief Commit- ned health workers. A major contradic-
tee, Dr. Dwarakanath Kotnis Memoria! tion emerged in this field of practice.
Committee etc. undergone training in Most of the acupuncture trained medic-
acupuncture. Dr.Basu's noble mission al graduates are of the opinion that if
interrupted in 1986 with his demise. we allow the trained acupuncture heal-
ei«: Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XX V 219

th workers to practice acupuncture with- tive if controlled by Government. 6

out having medical graduation, unwanted In India acupuncture neither fully

complications may develop in the treat- supported nor recognized by the Gov-
ment of patients. On the contrary, some ernment. So the country lacks any
doctors and institutions are ofthe opini- comprehensive basic infrastructural
on that as acupuncture is mainly based facility for proper training in acupunc-
on Traditional Chinese Medical Philoso- ture. Very few organizations are deliv-
phy, for its practitioners, actual knowl- ering preliminary and basic acupunct-
edge in acupuncture, basic medicine ure training forthe learners. The frame-
and a basic health concept are essen- work and dimensions of these training
tial, They opine that graduation in mod- are not properly standarized. Only re-
ern medical science should not be the cently a qualitative change in Govern-
prerequisite for becoming an acupunc- ment attitude for the development of
ture practitioner. In this context, if we acupuncture has been noticed. Govern-
make a comparative analysis regarding ment of India in early 90's taken positive
the role of modem doctors and acupunc- steps for mutual exchange of knowledge
ture health workers in the popularisation in the filed of traditional medicine includ-
of acupuncture in India, significant pres- ing yoga and acupuncture in between
ence of the health workers may be vis- India and China.
ible. This important social fact has to be Inner Dynamics of Philosophical
recognized by the scientific community. Understanding of Different
But people have already accepted as Acupuncturists
they are getting necesary service from Through the evaluation of inner
these workers. In this regard wa may dynamics of development of acupunc-
quote the important proposition of ture in India we have revealed that
WHO on practice of acupuncture. WHO there is a philosophical difference
considered that acupuncture, it prac- amongst the acupunture practitioners.
tised by well trained individuals, be A good number of Indian acupuncturists
they physicians or other health profes- practice acupuncture mainly based on
sionals should be safe and efficacious its analgesic property. So they fail to
forthe management of well defined con- utilize fuller potential of this healing art
ditions. It is also particularly cost effec- based on the philosophy of traditional
220 Historical Introduction of Acupuncture - Bakshi eta!

chinese medicine (TCM) whereas, though now practising acupuncture success-

small in number, the believers of TCM fully in different social setup for the
follow the philosophical dimensions of treatment of various chronic and acute
acupuncture therapy and continuous disease conditions. Gradually they are
endeavour is there to utilize and develop finding their actual niche in the field of
it as a potential therapeutic system. medical practice and people are also
Again it is interesting to note that a finding their friends in the struggle for
significant concept is emerging from the development of a cheap ecofriendly
the second group of practitioners that efficient holistic medical system.
acupuncture also can play vital comple- It is also interesting to note that
mentary role alongwith modern medi- most modern scientific and medical
cine mainstreame . Apart from these, institusions and agencies of India show-
another grollp of practitioners are there ing intense scientific interest for the
who propaqate acupuncture as an alter- development and standardized applica-
native therapy. But their actual approach tion of acupuncture. The premiermedi-
is hazy and tull of ambiguity. cal research body ICMR of Govemmentof
Institutional and Peoples' accep- India has already remarked that the fun-
tance of Acupuncture in India damental and applied research on acu-
Culturally our people favourto adopt puncture is an important area of medical
any form of traditional medical system. research. ICMR experts are giving more
So in case of acupuncture, which pos- stress on its mechanism of action,
sesses so much philosophical Similarity immunomodulatory property and on
with Indian ayurvedic system as well as philosophical dimensions. In this plethora
historical traces of common origin, a of intense social interest eminent medi-
large section of Indian society has spo- cal professionals are also showing their
ntaneously accepted it as a system of growing interest in this traditional but
therapy. This fact has been reflected by potential art of healing.
the growing interest ofthe youth to learn Philosophy Of Acupuncture
it as a powerful media of social service as Seeds of Integrated Medicine
well for professional practice. In our Central to the concepts behind acu-
country thousands of acupuncturists are puncture is the idea of the body as self
Bul/. Ind. Ins!. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV 221

healing that as living beings we are -all stimulating different points or holes,
naturally full of vitality and are continu- thus altering the quality of the note.,
ally, and quite unconsciously, being These ideas attuning and allied ideas of
rebalanced and regenerated from with- correct frequency, timing and so on to
in. Acupuncture sees the body as a self ensure that things run well, are useful
rectifying dynamic whole, a network of analogies for us in the modern world.
interrelating and interacting energies. Interestingly it is not regarded as enti-
Their even distribution and flow main- rely coincidental that many of the theo-
tains health, but any interruption deple- retical principles of Modern Physics
tion or stagnation leads to disease. Acu- have a similar basis and 'World view' as
puncture is a system of medicine which acupuncture. Both are looking behind
seeks to aid these natural processes, the scenes at the interaction of energies.
helping the body to correct itself by a Acupuncture may be old but its prin-
realignment or redirection of body vital ciples are very modern".
energy,which the Chinese call From an understanding ofthe body
"Oi"(Chee). 1.7 as an energetic and vibrating whole.
The Chinese themselves have com- comes a new approach to health and
pared the flow of"Oi" through the merid- disease. Modern western medicine te-
ian system to water irrigating the land, nds to be divisive, often looking at one
feeding, nourishing and sustaining the part of the body without seeing its relation
substance through which it flows. By to the whole Acupuncture draws toge-
needling the paints, the "Oi" can be ther all the diverse signs and sympotoms
'tapped' or affected to influence the of ill health to form a basic pattern of
state of health. In another analogy the disharmony'.
Chinese described the body as a musi- Having determined the dynamic state
cal instrument, constantly resounding of the patient in relation to the environ-
withtheflow of"Oi" inthe meridians, as ment, the Chinese doctor then attempts
a flute does with a breath of air. Good to restore the balance and harmony.
health is the equivalent of a pure clear Several therapeutic techniques are used,
note from this instrument and illness all designed to stimulate the patients
as discord, which can be corrected by systems in such a way that it will follow its
222 Historical Introduction of Acupuncture - Bakshi etal
own natural tendency to return to a bal-
ance state. Acordingly, one ofthe most
important principlesofthe Chinese Medi-
cine is always to give as mild a therapy
as possible. The whole process, ideally,
is one of ongoing interaction between
doctor and patient, with the doctor con-
tinually modifying the therapy according
to the patients' response. 8
With this evaluation it become evi-
dent that though the history of acupunc-
ture in India is lengthy, contradictory and
full of events but it has definitely added
some new di mensions in the paradigm of
new integrated medicine which can revo-
lutionize the ideas of modem medicine
vis-a-vis the development of more effec-
tive holistic medical system in Indian
society.
Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV 223

REFERENCES

1. Mann. F. 1992 Reinventing Acupuncture. Butter

Worth Heinemann P.3.
2. Liangyue, D.et.aJ. 1987 Chinese Acupuncture and
Moxibustion. Chief Editor-Xinnong,
C., First Ed. Foreign Languages
Press, Beijing. P. 9.
3. Thatte, D.G. 1988 Acupuncture Marma and other Asjan
Therapeutic Techniques.
Chaukhamba Orientalia, Varanasi.
4. Rog, F. 1995 The Lost Secrets of Ayurvedic Acu-
puncture. Motilal Banarsidas Pub-
lishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi. pp. 1-4.
5. Bakshi. D. 1995 Development of Acupuncture in
Indian Perspective: an evaluation.
33rd World Congress of complemen-
tary Medicine. New Delhi.
6. Aberele, O. 1990 WHO and the Development of Acu-
puncture Nomenclature proceedings
of 2nd World Congress of World
Federation of Acupuncture and
Moxibustion Societies (yVFAS) Paris.
p.289.
7. Firebrace, P. and HilJ.S. 1988 A guide to acupuncture. Hamlyn,
London, PP.8-11.
8. Capra, P. 1982 The Turning Point. Flamingo,
London,P.347
 224 Historical Introduction of Acupuncture - Bakshi etaJ
~

'qffif.q Qcti q <*i in CfiT q ~ "ill( I("q <*i ~

l(Cfll~H1 ~ qQgRi CfiT 3~f! an\i1Hlqol

- fu. ~ -fq.~,
~. ~, ~. "QTff ~ \ll. ~

~ ~'tiQCfl'CH (~~filfCf)(fI1) ~ <fiT~ ~ <.flTRif ~ ~ -xl

~311 ~ ~ ~ fcl;~ <1!.'if1Cfl \ifI1CflI{l ~ filf<ti(fll ~ ~ -qfu ~ ~

~ ~ ~ I W"<fll ~ \ffi(l if s31l, ~ ~ if ~11~ If~Cfl V1fIUT~ ~ I m ~ ~

~ 3Q~~I!>lQ if "\ill Q:<ttig:;{ ~ ~ ~ -:cWr ii p1 ~
~ ~ if ll"RT ~

~I \ffi{fifwf'q~~~<fiT ~~.fq:~. ~cnT~~~~%ffi~qR~

1959 if ern ?:f~~~~
t:fcflQ3'{~ 3NlCfifw filf<f)(fI1 ~<fiT ~
~ q fucf;m ~1 m
m ~ fcl; fq~ t~ ~~ Wflffi ~ WT~
a:rrqq; ~ (fm ~ <fl m~ fum t I

I
I H D J A

C ENTRI!:S FOR CULTlVAT10H OF' /CUPUl£lURE

IN At-CIENT lNOH AND CH1NA l>URTNG

200 B.C. - 91\1 A. O.