“The Father of Medicine,” Hippocrates, once said: “If medicine cannot cure, then use iron; if iron cannot cure, then use fire. If fire cannot cure, then there is no remedy.” Consequently, many Western physicians equate “iron” with surgical instruments and “fire” with lasers. In reality, however, “iron” is far more likely to refer to needles, while “fire” may well signify inflammation.
Acupuncture is the combined term for “needling” and “moxibustion.” Inserting needles at the appropriate acupoints can unblock the meridians, promote blood circulation, and thereby relieve pain and illness; moxibustion, on the other hand, is a powerful tool for enhancing the body’s self-healing capacity. By maintaining balance in the body’s acupoints and restoring yin–yang equilibrium, one can effectively ward off all diseases! Some say that even someone who cannot read can master acupuncture—this is indeed true. No matter who you are, as long as you pay attention to which conditions correspond to which body locations and how to use needles in those situations, you will be able to treat yourself when similar circumstances arise. Moxibustion is even simpler: anyone can practice it, and it can be easily performed at home.
This demonstrates that acupuncture is not a lofty “academic discipline,” but rather a “technique” that ordinary people can also use.