SUCHIVEDA

INTRODUCTION: Suchiveda translated into English as "art of piercing the needle". In Sanskrit Suchi meana needle and Veda means knowledge. So Suchiveda (Acupuncture) is defined as art and Science of piercing the needle into the body in specific points in order to relieve or cure the symptom of a disease. Suchiveda was written in Bharata (India) 7000 years ago by Hindu Maharishis. In original Suchiveda body has 108 marmas(Points). Marma means to heal or kill. These marmas are situated in different parts of the body, which are burnt with herb, massage or pierced with various types of needles. In stone age, needles made of bones and bamboos were used as needles by making them sharp.

The philosophy of Suchiveda is to treat man as a microcosom possessing all elements in his body as those present in the cosmos. Man's certain parts of the body are ruled by Venus, other parts by Jupiter and so on. This means definite qualities are ascribed to the Planets, in an effort to release the cosmos in its functions with organs of the human body to interrelate the two.

The doctrine formed by the rules governing the interaction between elements is useful on many levels, most important of these being the classification of the patient as for example, one belonging to the fire temperament would not be treated in the same way as one belong to the water temperament. Patients can also be composites of several elements which make up their personality. The existence of this type of doctrine greatly facilitates the task of treating the patient by merely finding out which element is out of harmony with the others.

It is a custom among Hindus when a child is born to cast a horoscope to see what are the most auspicious moments in his/her life to make certain acts for that child's progress and health. An auspicious date is selected with an auspicious time to have the ears pierced. Ear piercing is not only for ornamental purpose but to stimulate vitality and provide immunity against disease. Ear piercing also helps a child in teething by eliminating the usual feverish and diarrhoeal tendency.

The Chinese people have always attached great importance to the development of Chinese traditional medicine, including Suchiveda. As early as 1928 China advocated massively the use of both Chinese herbal medicine. Whereas Bharata (India) adopted more western allopathic medicine and neglected completely Suchiveda and only gave very little support to Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine). So Suchiveda in Bharata is almost forgotten by Bharatiyas.

At present acupuncture anaesthesia can be applied in various compliecated operations including opening the scull (Craniotomy). New types of acupuncture treatment like electro-acupuncture, homeo-puncture, magneto-puncture and lager-acupuncture have been discoverd by medical workers in the west and have proved effective in curing many diseases once thought incurable.