www.iocob.nl ayurvedic acupuncture, a lost secret, IOCOB Integrative medicine Integrated Ayurvedic acupuncture is based on the three doshas, but the needles are placed in the same acupuncture points as in TCM.Many references exist today with regards to ancient acupuncture practice in India (see our reference section). It is impossible today to know for a fact exactly where acupuncture first originated. There are references to denote that the first needles were made of stone before the advent of metals, showing exactly just how ancient this practice is (stone age). The ancient practice of nailing a person to a cross, practised by Carthaginians (from ancient area of Lebanon) and later by the Romans also reflects a deep understanding of marmas or pressure points for the person being crucified died from suffocation, as the palm and sole marma points cause slow death by reducing air and Prana intake into the lungs. By direct contrast, by needling these points, Prana and air flow is promoted into the lungs.Acupuncture was practiced as a global system around the world in ancient days, including Egypt, but most interesting is the practice by the Amazon Indians in South America. Using needle-like blow darts, the natives puncture various points for curing diseases, often in combination with herbs by dipping the needle point into the herb liquid, to effect a better cure. The development of the same practice using the muscle relaxant 'curare' to paralize the prey (e.g wild game or enemy) stems also from acupuncture. The lack of communication between the Amazon and China within the last two thousand years seems to prove that acupuncture is indeed extremely ancient. Possibly emanating from the region of Northern India, near the Himalayas according to some scholars, Ayurvedic Acupuncture was practised by many in India and was taught as an Ayurvedic subject in the major ancient universities like Nalanda and Takshashila. Excavations have unearthed metal acupuncture needles in the sites of these ancient universities so we know the practice was there at that time. Some experts believe that this acupuncture via Buddhism was taken to Tibet and to China alongwith the knowledge of the Five Elements. The Five Elements knowledge was established in China by Tsou Wen believed to have received it from Buddhist travellers from India. Later, China developed its own excellent system of elements and acupuncture. This adoption of Indian knowledge seems to parallel the adoption of Kalaripayat- the Indian martial arts which was taken to China by Buddhist monks and traders and which later developed into Shaolin Temple Boxing.Like the decline of Buddhism in India, its place of origin, and the meteoric rise in other countries such as China, Korea and Japan etc. Ayurvedic acupuncture and marma therapy in general declined in practice in India and was delegated to remote areas, especially Sri Lanka and Northern India, near the Himalayas. Buddhism still has a great influence in these two areas. Marma therapy (and acupuncture) is practiced by a small number of southern Indians, especially Tamils who articulate between Kerala and Sri Lanka. Like many indigenous systems around the world (eg Australian aboriginal medicine), Ayurvedic acupuncture and Marma therapy are generally practised secretely, away from main stream society. There is a grave danger that in this format, it risks extinction. Today this knowledge is becoming more and more accessible as academics research into ancient, and lost systems.Modern Ayurvedic Acupuncture commenced in Australia in 1970 when Indian-born Gurukal GP Scaife emigrated there from India. The system was made accessible to Western society and was further developed for Western practice. It was later developed academically and proper research methods were utilised. Today, Ayurvedic acupuncture, although capturing the essence of the Indian system, is a modern system of Ayurvedic Acupuncture which like Ayurveda itself is 'an open and endless science'. In conjunction with institutions in India, modern research on its practice and history continues.The pioneering research and teaching work of Dr. Frank Ros, Prof. Dr. Avinash Lele, and Prof. Dr. Subhash Ranade (from the International Academy of Ayurveda in Pune, India) on Marma therapy (of which Ayurvedic acupuncture is a system) will ensure future establishment and acceptance internationally for this extremely effective but much neglected system of Indian healing.