U3extended reading One of the most famous Chinese medical treatments is the art of "magic needles”, or Chinese acupuncture. It was developed long ago, perhaps as early as 2000 BCE. There is evidence 1 acupuncture dates back to the Stone Age, 2 stone tools called bian were used to press areas of the body。 3 acupuncture developed, the simple bian stones were replaced by stone needles. Eventually, metal needles began to appear and took the place 4 stone needles. These solid needles are made of different metals, such as gold and silver. Some acupuncturists today still use gold and silver needles, but the majority have now switched 5 stainless steel ones. In addition to the changes in material, the shapes of the needles 6 （change） over time. 7 (Original), there were nine different kinds of needles, with variations in shape. Nowadays, the fine sharp needles that measure usually between 15 and 75 millimetres in length are still used, while most of the others have been replaced by more complex medical instruments.So what happens during a visit 8 the acupuncture clinic First, the acupuncturist examines the patient, looking at the patient's skin and tongue, listening to the sound of his or her voice and breathing, and 9 (smell) his or her breath. Then the acupuncturist asks some questions about the patient's condition and feels his or her pulse. This is a particularly important step according to the energy theory behind acupuncture. The acupuncturist can check the pulse in three positions on each wrist, and every one of them is connected with a major body organ. By checking all the positions, the acupuncturist can find out which energy channel does not have enough energy.According to the results of the check-up, the acupuncturist then selects certain points on the body called acupuncture points. Needles are pushed into the skin at these points so that a health problem can be treated. Up to now, more than 360 acupuncture points 10 (identity), each linked to a different part of the body. Sometimes the needles are pushed into points near the body part affected by a disease, and sometimes into points that are not so close to 11 .Over the years, acupuncture has been used to treat a wide 12 (vary) of health problems, including severe pains, blood pressure issues, stomach discomfort, sports injuries and weight problems. And it has been used to treat more than just physical problems—acupuncturists have discovered that the treatment helps with mental problems like depression and anxiety too. Acupuncture has also been applied to treat people who abuse alcohol, tobacco or drugs. 13 acupuncture actually works is not clearly understood. For example, there are different theories 14 (try) to explain how it eases pain, but no agreement has been reached. One theory 15 (explain) this phenomenon suggests that acupuncture blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. Another theory relates acupuncture to the production of a substance in the body which can reduce pain.Desp ... ...
~~ 您好，已阅读到文档的结尾了 ~~
