Acupuncture has been an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years. In addition to acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine also has its own complete system of herbal medicine. Although Chinese immigrants brought acupuncture to the United States in the mid-nineteenth century, it did not establish itself as a distinct form of healthcare in this country until about thirty years ago, and it has only been in the last seven or eight years that acupuncture finally gained recognition from the mainstream medical community as a viable means of treatment for a variety of health conditions. |