Thin slivers of stone/bamboo/metal needles were inserted into the body. A number of different points would generally be used. The acupuncturist would rapidly rotate/twirl the sliver back and forth for some time then move on to another point.

This cycle would be repeated many times for up to 30 minutes.

Sometimes the movement would be up and down rather than twirly . At times the sliver would be left alone. Strict attention would be paid to attaining Qi (or CHI) - a numb/heavy feeling around the acupuncture sliver/needle The Chinese believed that Qi or Chi was the vital energy of the body and that Qi was flowing when this numb heavy sensation occurred.

A generalised feeling of relaxation, well being and (if pain was present) pain relief would follow either during the treatment or some hours later and could continue for hours to days to weeks.

The early acupuncturists discovered a number of points occurring in sequence up or down the body that could be used to treat certain conditions and/or organ diseases. They named these lines connecting similar points, MERIDIANS (many of the recent acupuncture texts have interpreted the original words, jingluo, as CHANNELS).

In all they described twelve paired or bilateral meridians (i.e. one on the left side & one on the right side) - six connecting each arm to head and/or trunk and six connecting each leg to head and/or trunk plus a single meridian on the anterior (front ) centre line of the body and another on the posterior (back) centre line.The two unpaired meridians form part of the eight extraordinary channels which act as collateral or connecting points for the paired meridians.

Each paired meridian was named after the organ that could be affected by stimulating one or more points along that meridian.

Six of these organs - Lung, Spleen, Heart, Kidney, Pericardium and Liver were the solid or Zang organs associated with storage of energy (Qi) and body fluids. The other six - Large Intestine, Stomach, Small intestine, Triple energiser and Gall Bladder were the 'hollow' or Fu organs and were associated with digestion and excretion.

The ancient Chinese believed that the universe and everything in it, including Man, was a balance of two opposing forces they called Yin and Yang. One could not exist without the other. An excess of Yin produced a deficiency of Yang and vice versa.

Such imbalances caused disease.Yin was related to cold, interior,medial and was associated with the Zang organ & Yang was related to heat, exterior, lateral and was associated with the Fu organs.

The Conception Vessel meridian was connected to the Zang organs and Governing vessel with the Fu organs.

ARM-TRUNK

LEG-TRUNK

ANTERIOR MIDLINE

POSTERIOR MIDLINE

The energy flowing from one force to the other they called CHI or Qi (pronounced "chee"). Qi was assumed to be of two main types

(1) congenital (or MERIDIAN QI)- a combination of the genetic influences of mother and father plus influences from the universe. Meridian Qi in the twelve regular meridians flowed from the ends of fingers and toes to the trunk and head.

(2) Acquired (or SUBTLE NUTRITIVE QI)- energy derived from food, water, breathing, exercise, meditation, harmony. (Negative thoughts/emotions would cause a decline or blockage in energy. Positive emotions would cause a smooth flow of energy ). The flow of this vital energy or Subtle Nutritive Qi is continuous, travelling outwards to hands along the medial Hand-Yin meridians(Lung, Heart, Pericardium),back via the lateral Hand-Yang meridians(Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Triple Energiser) then downwards to the feet via the lateral Foot-Yang meridians ( Stomach, Bladder, Gall Bladder) and back via the medial Foot-Yin meridians (Spleen, Kidney,Liver).

The flow of Qi was continuous from one organ to another throughout a 24 hour cycle and would be present in a particular organ-meridian system at the same time each day. The Qi lasts for two hours in each meridian/organ. This meridian cycle traditionally begins at 3a.m. in the Lung meridian and moves to the Large Intestine by 5a.m. thence to the Stomach by 7a.m., the Spleen by 9a.m, the Heart by 11a.m., and so on (see diagram). Ideally the best time to treat a disorder in a particular organ was in the time period in which Qi was flowing in that meridian. If so, a specific acupuncture point for each meridian, called an horary point, was used

Diagram courtesy of Dr John A Amaro