According to visiting professor Peng Li in the department of medicine at UCI, acupuncture was already mentioned in historical books and texts about 4,000 years ago. The Chinese people stumbled upon this new method of treating illnesses when they discovered that by treating the external body, one could treat internal pain and illness. Many books were written and recorded through experience of these healing needles and were passed down generation to generation and revised from dynasty to dynasty. Other countries have historically used acupuncture, including England, which used acupuncture in the 17th century. In the available literature and websites concerning acupuncture, it seems that no one really questions if acupuncture works.
Modern acupuncture uses disposable steel needles.
However, historically needles were made from gold and silver, according to Li. In modern accupuncture, specialized needles are now used on patients. Each acupoint corresponds with specific ailments that it is supposed to cure or treat. For example, acupuncture performed on the little toe helps with eye problems. Wait a minute.