Assessment and future development of the WHO/WPRO standardization of acupuncture point locations / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Introduction] In 2006 the WHO and WPRO agreed on standard acupuncture point locations. To promotepagate these standards, in 2009 the Second Japan Acupuncture Standardization Committee published a Japanese edition of 'WHO STANDARD ACUPUNCTURE POINT LOCATIONS FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION.' Based on this Japanese edition, a new textbook was published by the Japan Association of Massage & Acupuncture Teachers and the Japan College Association of Oriental Medicine. Since one year has passed since the start of education based on standard acupuncture point locations at Japanese universities, colleges, vocational schools and training centers for anma (Japanese traditional massage), massage, and shiatsu (acupressure); acupuncture; and moxibustion therapies, we administered a questionnaire survey as an evaluation of international standardization and the problems of introducing standard acupuncture point locations .<BR>[Subjects and methods] Subjects were mainly teachers and included a small number of researchers, clinicians, and other groups concerned with acupuncture and moxibustion. We used a questionnaire that we originally created at the Second Meeting of the Japan Standardization of Acupuncture Point Locations Committee.<BR>[Results] Among the 180 institutions surveyed, we obtained answers from 149 people from 93 institutions in total. Agreement on the question of standard acupuncture points, "functional existence" (44.3%) was most common, and "anatomical existence" came next at 26.6%. For the question on acupuncture treatment, 82.4% replied with "use ofboth acupuncture points and reaction points." For the answers to agreeing with international standardization, "no opinion" was 41.7% and 51.7% for "appreciate." However, both of those groups appreciated globalization of acupuncture and moxibustion by a common　language. There were many opinions on proportional bone measurement. Specifically, opinions indicated a change "from the cubital crease to the wrist crease" (from 10B-cun to 12B-cun) and a need for proportional bone measurement of the upper arm. Whereas, for individual acupuncture points, opinions expressed the difficulty of locating application points and not understanding reasons for change and notations including body surface segments.<BR>[Discussion] We were able to classify the opinions collected into the following groups: (1) problems that can be corrected immediately, including typographic errors, (2) problems that need to be reviewed at the next international gathering, and (3)problems that need to be understood by making full use of related documents.<BR>[Conclusion] We were able to determine primarily for a wide range of teachers, problems understanding individual acupuncture point locations, including consideration of acupuncture points, evaluation of standardization of acupuncture point locations, and other guidelines

The past, present, and future of "chi mi-byo" / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

"chi mi-byo (premorbidity) or zhi-weibing is defined as "preventive treatment of disease" in the "Annual Report on Health and Welfare 1997". In China, in the 2006 five-year plan for the "zhi-weibing" policy and in the 2008 "zhi-weibing" project, the policy has been changed in quality to emphasize prevention, "yo-jo or yangsheng (care of life)", and health for the purpose of improving lifestyle-related diseases and reducing the medical costs.<BR> The word "zhi-weibing" is used in "Suwen" and "Ling Shu" in reference the following: prevention, "yangsheng", and the initial/early treatment at the onset of disease. Additionally in "Nanjing" and "Jingui Yaolue", "zhi-weibing" means predicting the change of disease and preventing the progress of disease. Furthermore in Kampo Ikkando Medicine in Japan, it means improvement of constitution.<BR> In this symposium, I touched on the following: <BR>Volunteer activity reports at disaster areas<BR>Macroscopic viewpoint of current medical state (health issue in modern times)<BR>The relationship of health, disease, and the power to cure oneself<BR>"zhi-weibing or chi mi-byo"<BR>The world of Tao (way, path) and Mei (life)<BR>The "zhi-weibing" policy in China<BR>Symposiasts spoke on topics as follows: <BR> 1) Ascertaining the history of "zhi-weibing or chi mi-byo" and terminological issues like "chi mi-byo" or "mi-byo chi" in Japan<BR> 2) As a clinical practice of "chi mi-byo", an approach to a part of various methods of "yangsheng or yo-jo" based on the power to cure oneself and holistic healing method, the initial treatment, preventing the progress of disease, and the improvement of constitution<BR> 3)Achievement of the initial treatment of "Jingei-Kiko pulse diagnosis" and checking "the pulsation type and clinical condition"<BR>Whenever thinking about the future of the field of acupuncture and moxibustion, life quality of each and every human being, health, happiness, and medical economy, I would be much obliged if the contents of this "chi mi-byo" symposium are helpful to inspire medical care and the Society of Medicine, all healthcare professionals, and all patients.

Commemorative Lecture Meeting for Publication of "WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region" / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The (First) Japan Acupuncture Point Committee was established in 1965 and the nomenclature for meridians and acupuncture points was standardized at the meeting in Geneva in 1989. After that the first Informal Consultation on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Points Locations was organized by WHO/WPRO and held in Beijing (2003). In Japan the (second) Japan Acupuncture Point committee started April in 2004. Japan, China and Korea held nine meetings and made a draft for the Locations of Acupuncture Points. According to the draft made at the official meeting of 'the Development of Standard Acupuncture Point Locations'held in Tsukuba, Japan (2006), Acupuncture Point Locations were further standardized. Finaly, the book "WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region"was published on May 16th, 2008. Here, we want to report on the Commemorative Lecture Meeting for Publication of WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations held on May 30th, 2008.

Current Circumstances and Future of the WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

1. Introduction<br>The Meeting on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Point Locations hosted by WHO/WPRO was held between Oct. 31 th and Nov. 2 nd in 2006 at the International Congress Center in Tsukuba City, Japan. The delegates came from nine countries, e.g. Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Singapore, UK, USA, Vietnam, and two organizations, e.g. WFAS (World Federation of Acupuncture Societies), AAOM (American Association of Oriental Medicine). The total number of delegates was twenty. The draft of Standard Acupuncture Point Locations, which had been discussed between three countries, Japan, China and Korea during the previous three years, was officially decided.<br>2. Agreement for Acupuncture Point Locations<br>Three hundred and sixty one Acupuncture Point Locations were decided at the meeting, the number is 7 more than the number that has been taught so far in the educational field of Japanese acupuncture. The points which differ from the current Japanese text book are 7. These points had been considered “extra points” located along meridians as well as points requiring special attention. 6 points had been the subject of debate, and as a result two locations for each point have been decided. These are LI 19, LI 20, CV 24, PC 8, PC 9, and GB 31.<br>3. Future Plan of WPRO<br>We attempted to standardize the Acupuncture Point Locations at the official meeting in Tsukuba. Moreover WHO/WPRO intends to standardize (1) Oriental Medical Terminology, (2) Oriental Medical Information, (3) Guidelines for research of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, and general thoughts, points of view, and an outline of Oriental Medicine. Then WHO hopes to encourage application of these standards to research and practice of Oriental Medicine.<br>4. The themes after deciding the Acupuncture Point Locations<br>Subjects for further discussion include: (1) Research on acupuncture point locations, (2). Encouraging the use of Standardized locations, (3). Clarifying “Japanese Acupuncture” and its supporting its use all over the world, etc.

The Aim of WHO and the Circumstances and Prospects of Activity of the Second Japan Acupuncture Points Committee / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The standardization of acupuncture point locations has been a pending matter for ages and considered the difficult challenge ever since the nomenclature of meridians and collaterals and acupuncture points, including the eight extra meridians and extra points, was standardized internationally at the Geneva Meeting in 1989. 14 years since then, in 2003, the Informal Consultation on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Point Locations by Japan, China and Korea commenced under the initiative of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO). <BR>The discussions were held 9 times in 3 years, making great progress toward accomplishing the standardization. The objective will finally reach fruition at the Meeting on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Point Locations which is to be held at Tsukuba-city, Japan, in the fall of 2006. <BR>The developments thus far and future issues are summarized and reported.

Examination of the Standard for the Determination of the Position of the Meridian Point GV 14 / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

A symposium was held to focus attention on the position of the meridian point GV 14, which has been con-troversial over the centuries.<BR>To summarize the symposium opinions : (1) Since the positions of meridian points have changed with time and culture and according to the therapeutic target, objective, and instruments, the changes of the position of GV 14 from above the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra to between the spinous processes of the 6 th and 7 th cervical vertebrae and to between the spinous processes of the 7 th cervical and the 1 st thoracic vertebrae are not exceptional. (2) If the position of GV 14, which is a standard for the determination of meridian points on the back, changes, its clinical value is nullified. It should be, therefore, standardized as being between the spinous processes of the 6 th and 7 th cervical vertebrae. (3) The 6 th cervical vertebra is important in body surface clinical science, and the 7 th cervical vertebra is important in the mobility and anatomical segmentation of the spine. However, in consideration of the development processes of acupuncture, it is more reasonable to determine the position of GV 14 on the basis of clinical effects. (4) The proposed international standardization of the position of GV 14 as between the spinous processes of the 7 th cervical and 1 st thoracic vertebrae is acceptable, because there has been no objection from China or Korea.<BR>No agreement was reached in this symposium, but the position of GV 14, which bears great clinical significance, must be evaluated further.