BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTE
"Life is the unity of three flows: the flow of substance, the flow of energy, the flow of information."
Academician V.A.Engelgard
About 5,000 years ago, in China, folk doctors empirically found on the human skin certain zones or points stimulation of which by injection or cauterization led to the disappearance of painful effects. (Huang di Neijing, III B.C.). This method, based on certain philosophical principles of the transfer of the vital energy Tsi, was called zhen-jiu. In 1026, the first "Atlas of Points" came into existence (Wang Wei-yi. 600 active points). In Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia and India zhen-jiu therapy received wide recognition in 6-11 centuries. It was actively used until the 17th century, after which it ceased to apply. In China in 1955, zhen-jiu therapy was revived after the establishment of a research institute into the subject. The study of this technique was included for the first time into the syllabus of medical institutions.
In the 17th century, the method of acupuncture and cauterization was brought to Europe. Use spread in the 19th century and saw particular growth in the 20s-40s of the 20th century. In Russia, the first mention of acupuncture may be found in scientific papers of a number of authors of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century (P. Charukovsky, 1828; A.A. Tatarinova, 1853; P.A. Kornievsky, 1863, 1878; A.Ya. Violina, 1903; V.V. Korsakov, 1928). The regular study and use of this method in Russia was initiated by the Health Ministry of USSR in 1957.
In the 20th century, in line with improvement of the method of corporal acupuncture, new systems of treatment of certain active points (zones) by acupuncture and cauterization, including points of the auricle (er-zhen-lao, auriculopuncture, Paul Nogier), of feet and hands (Su Jok acupuncture, Ch.V.Pak) started developing. To date more than 1,700 biologically active points (zones) are recognised.
For many centuries in Japan, the zone massage "amma" was used as part of the national folk medicine. In the 40s of the 20th century, Tokiuro Namikoshi re-interpreted and modernized the ancient system and gave it the name "shiatsu". According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, "shiatsu" is a kind of treatment in which fingers and palms of the hands are used for pressurizing certain points (zones) of the body. The purpose is to normalize regulatory processes in the organism, preserving and improving health. (T. Namikoshi, 1987). Since 1956, the shiatsu-therapy has gained widespread acceptance in many countries of the world as one of non-invasive methods of easily administered first aid. In the West, this method adopted the name of "contact treatment" or acupressure (R. Houston, 1992).
2. European CuriosityEven ancient scientists assumed that some "influence" is transferred via nerves - from the brain to muscles and from the sense organs to the brain.
Italian doctor and scientist L. Galvani, while conducting experiments in September 1786 with a frog paw, discovered "animal energy"* and marked the beginning of electrobiology. He hypothesized that paralysis may be connected with the disturbed nerve isolation and epilepsy, with a heavy electric discharge in the brain. "In the future", he said, "I will apply all efforts for development of the new direction in medicine - electromedicine". ("Tractate on Force of Electricity at Muscular Movements"*, 1791).
1796 - Italian physicist Alessandro Volta discovered the Volta effect and chemical sources of current. "Can it (electric fluid) be the reason of all sensations (except for the tongue) in other sense organs?"*, he thought.
1784-1812 - Czech scientist I. Prokhaska introduced into physiology a notion of some nerve force transferred via nerve fibres, as the body is exposed to "Stimulation matters". He used the term "reflex" for designation of the reaction of the body in response to the action of this stimulus. The force of this reaction corresponds to the force of the stimulus. As distinct from R. Descartes, he believed that the reflex act may appear not only due to the effect of external stimuli but also due to the effect of internal ones.
1811-1822 - the Bell-Magendie's law was formulated (Ch. Bell, Scotland, F. Magendie, France). The authors showed that sensitive nerve (afferent) fibres are introduced into the spinal cord as part of dorsal root of spinal nerve, whereas motor nerve (efferent) fibres go out of the spinal cord as part of ventral roots of the spinal nerve.
1827 - physicist L. Nobili from Florence registered for the first time the potential difference across various points of the frog's body.
1843-1848 - professor Du Bois-Reymond (Berlin) discovered electric current generated by injury in a nerve (rest potential); he discovered the potential difference between the outer and inner surfaces of the frog's skin, described the threshold force of stimulation, and the relative and absolute refractory period.
1850 - M. Holl (Great Britain) suggested and justified the term "reflex arch" and applied this phenomenon in a clinic.
1850 - professor of physiology of Koenigsberg University G. Helmholz measured experimentally the rate of spread of stimulation via a nerve.
1853 - physiologist K. Bernard (France) discovered the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of lumen of vessels.
1863 - well-known Russian scientist I.M. Sechenovin, in his paper "Reflexes of the Brain" developed the idea about the unity of the body and environment, strict causality of all aspects of the mental activity, and the flow-on to physiological and psychological matters. He laid the groundwork for the evolutionary interpretation of physiological functions: "Influence on organisms of the environment in which they live, of conditions of their existence, to be more precise
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