For thousands of years, acupuncture has held an important place in Chinese medicine. In the past, the art was used to treat a multitude of ailments. After its effectiveness in surgical anesthesia was established worldwide, it aroused interest in modern medical circles.

Historically, acupuncture was practiced widely during the Chin, Sui and Tang dynasties when great importance was attached to it every where. After the Chen Chiu Ta Cheng was published in the Ming Dynasty, it became accepted as the most complete work on the subject. Along with Nei Ching, the first of China's medical writings, it was owned by almost every acupuncturist in China.

After the seventeenth century, however, the use of acupuncture in therapy began to decline, as modern Western methods were introduced to China. Since the new medicine had precise instruments, a complete underlying theory and constantly improving techniques, the Chinese accepted it readily. Some even charged that Chinese medicine was without foundation and that acupuncture was unscientific.

On Sept. 22, 1943, the National Government promulgated its "medical precepts," which for the first time placed Chinese and Western medicine on an equal footing. This added to acupuncture's efficacy in the treatment of disease, and at last secured its position in medicine.

Though no study to date can explain precisely why acupuncture can relieve pain and alleviate illnesses, one thing is certain: its function is inextricably linked with the nervous system. Some biochemists still doubt its ability to produce changes in various glandular secretions, body fluids and enzymes, which is perhaps why its curative powers remain a mystery.

Besides undertaking a study of an acupuncture, the Ching Hsueh (literally," meridian points") theory, also combines it with a number of modern Western techniques, opening up a wide range of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Among them: are the Ryo-do-raku diagnosis (discovered in Japan), the Kelion photographic method (Russia), and the electrical resistance--blood circulation diagnosis (West Germany), all of which are closely related to the theory of acupuncture.

Even though no study has yet pinpointed the reason for its effectiveness, acupuncture in clinical use has produced remarkable results. In January 1974 the personal physician for the president of Bangladesh brought his 12-year-old son to Taiwan for treatment of an ear affliction. At the age of 11 months the child had lost his hearing after a bout with meningitis. After four days treatment, the boy who had been deaf for 11 years, could hear his father shouting one meter away.

Some years later, a local woman named Lou, paralyzed and mute from a stroke, could sit up after only one hour of treatment. After four more such therapy sessions she could move unaided up and down the stairs by clutching the rails.

A patient who had lost the sight of his right eye regained it after 10 treatments; an expectant mother who had difficult pregnancies delivered twins smoothly after acupuncture treatment. These are just some examples of the efficacy of needle therapy. In fact, the method has been used since ancient times to treat a wide variety of ailments, including asthma, gastric disorders, skin diseases, stroke and arthritis. Since knowledge of acupuncture has spread all over the world, Western practitioners have discovered that it can be used to reduce weight, suppress addictions (to smoking, drinking and hard drugs), relieve pain at parturition, and even enhance facial blood circulation to eliminate minor wrinkles. In addition, it has been found effective in easing pseudo-myopia (eye-strain), offering new hope to many nearsighted patients. Suddenly, acupuncture has become recognized as a panacea for many ills.

Although acupuncture has gained a good reputation as a kind of therapy, much like injections, radiation and other methods, it has its limitations. As a rule, it can only be used to treat functional disorders. It cannot achieve positive results in the treatment of appendicitis, asphyxia, bone fractures and other potentially fatal ailments.

There are also some taboos. It is believed, for instance, that using acupuncture during pregnancy can cause miscarriages, or that it can cause irregular heartbeat, shock or a symptom called "needle fainting" in patients suffering from coronary diseases, diabetes, hemophilia, hunger, overeating or fatigue.

Any one considering needle therapy invariably asks: "Will it hurt much?" Some discomfort is inevitable when the needle enters the body, but most say the experience is no more painful than a mosquito bite.

Today, the Veterans, Tri-service General, National Taiwan University hospitals in Taiwan and most other big ones are equipped with acupuncture facilities. Treatment can be given side-by-side with Western therapy.

Ling Ling-kwang, one of Taiwan's foremost female acupuncturists, believes that to practice the technique, one must not only be well versed in meridians, points of insertion, and handling needles, but also understand Chinese medicine's theories of etiology, recognition of symptoms, diagnosis and therapeutic methods. According to Ms. Ling, though there are differences between doctors practicing needle therapy-- (some have a family tradition going back for generations, some have undergone apprenticeships, and some are self-taught) only the most honest and upright practitioners will take the national examination for certification in the use of acupuncture treatment.

Dr. Chung Chieh, director of Veterans Hospital Acupuncture Division, holds that today, the best acupuncturists are doctors versed in western medicine with an understanding of the art, rather than acupuncturists with a passing know ledge of western medicine. To put it another way, every acupuncturist should receive comprehensive modern medical training.

Dr. Chung advanced the idea of "hidden effect," under which acupuncture alleviates a disease through masking the symptoms, rather than effecting a real cure. Thus the ailment sometimes continues to spread undetected until it is beyond treatment. Only if one has sufficient knowledge of modern medicine to discern such a "hidden effect" in time, can one give a scientific diagnosis.

Since last year, the Veterans Hospital Gastrointestimal and Acupuncture Divisions have joined forces in a plan to use needle anesthesia. According to Dr. Chung, the method has been used on more than 100 patients, with a success rate of 80 to 90 percent. Compared with narcotic anesthesia, needle anesthesia has two advantages: preparation time is much shorter (three minutes vs. 15 minutes) and needle anesthesia has no after- effects. With narcotics, a person must not eat for quite a few hours before, or some time after surgery, in order to prevent vomiting.

In 1977, the Veterans Hospital began using new acupuncture prescription symbols. Besides streamlining procedures, and simplifying statistics, tabulation and analysis, the symbols also make it easier for Western-trained doctors to absorb and apply the treatment. Dr. Chung won an award for this new Westernized style in 1978 from the Taiwan Medical Foundation.

In the four years since the Veterans' Hospital established its Acupuncture Division, large numbers of young physicians have come from 21 countries to study the technique.

Dr. Vangermeersch of Belgium arrived at the hospital, in October 1979, with a delegation to conduct observations, which prompted him to stay on for further studies. He returned home after completing his project and reorganized his notes into a 190-page book entitled "Acupuncture Study in Taiwan." The work has become a bestseller in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg, and Dr. Vangermeersch has now started two associations for the study of acupuncture in Rotterdam.

Last October, Dr. Chung held a lecture tour of Europe at the invitation of the Belgian Acupuncture Study Council. By comparing therapeutic methods in other countries, he has introduced two new features to therapy and training methods at the Veterans Hospital, the use of fewer needles, and simplified prescriptions.

Dr. Chung believes future research should be conducted in three stages: (1) new facts established by clinical acupuncturists, (2) further research into findings, and (3) specialists in different fields (biophysics, biochemistry, embryology, endocrinology, metabology, immunology, neurology) working as a team to conduct deeper research into acupuncture.

On Feb. 1 this year, all major Taiwan newspapers published a story about how the Premier of Fiji had benefited from an acupuncture treatment. The Premier had been in pain for some years as a result of injuries to his neck, waist and ankles. Normally, he could only play eight holes of golf before succumbing to low back pain. After receiving a single therapy session in Taiwan, in which Dr. Chung inserted four needles in his leg, the Premier was able to play the full 18 holes at Tamsui Golf Course. Once again, China's ancient and mysterious medical technique had proven itself effective in medical treatment for a foreign friend.

[Picture Caption]

1. The most popular method of cautery is applying mugwort with ginger root or garlic to alleviate pain during therapy. 2. Needle insertion will not cause much pain if it is in the precise meridian point.

1. Needle insertion around the eyes calls for thorough understanding of human anatomy. 2. Sanitizing needles before treatment prevents infection. 3. World-famous cardiologist Dr. Christian Barnard of South Africa, undergoing needle therapy from Dr. Chung of the Veterans Hospital. 4. The mini-round needle is used in the treatment of pseudo-myopia and in diet programs.

1. Meridian points are marked on a bronze model for easy reference. 2. Cylindrical bamboo cups, known as "Pa Kuan," have achieved satisfactory results in the treatment of rheumatism. 3. Dried mugwort is an important part of acupuncture treatment. 4. Needles, mugwort, bronze statue and Pa Kuan.

Combination of ancient acupuncture and modern techniques has led to the new treatment known as electropuncture: 1. Large machine used for surgical anesthesia. 2. Smaller machine used for paralysis therapy.

Needle insertion will not cause much pain if it is in the precise meridian point.

Needle insertion around the eyes calls for thorough understanding of human anatomy.

Sanitizing needles before treatment prevents infection.

World-famous cardiologist Dr. Christian Barnard of South Africa, undergoing needle therapy from Dr. Chung of the Veterans Hospital.

The mini-round needle is used in the treatment of pseudo-myopia and in diet programs.

2. Cylindrical bamboo cups, known as "Pa Kuan," have achieved satisfactory results in the treatment of rheumatism.

3. Dried mugwort is an important part of acupuncture treatment.

1. Meridian points are marked on a bronze model for easy reference.

Needles, mugwort, bronze statue and Pa Kuan.

Smaller machine used for paralysis therapy.