Acupuncture anesthesia(AA)is an anesthetic method created by medical workers and researchers in China during medical practice in 1950 s.As a paragon of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine

AA clinical practice and basic theoretic research have gained continuous improvement and progress

and obtained a series of outstanding achievements in the past 60 years.Consequently

the theory of traditional Chinese medicine was enriched

and the acupuncture therapy was pushed forward to the world.The present paper reviews the course of formation and development of clinical application of AA from the late years of 1950 sup to now

including the initial stage(1958—1966)

rapid propulsion stage(1967—1979)

consolidation period(1980—2004)and newly developing period(2005—now).The AA has experienced flexural pathway from simple acupuncture analgesia

to acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia(or acupuncture-assisted anesthesia)

and to the application of whole perioperative period.Nowadays

it keeps unceasing development and innovation from simple analgesia and sedation to organ protection during perioperative period and reduction of post-operative complications.The AA possesses unique prosperous vitality

and also has a plenty room for improvement

being worthy of further popularization and research.