ABSTRACT
Europe has a long history with its own traditional medicines. In Germany, the practice of traditional European and Asian medicine along with modern medicine is called Integrative Medicine. The pain clinics at Munich University, TCM Klinik Bad Kotzting, Immanuel Klankenhaus and Zen Haus Klinik are well-known centers of Integrative Medicine in Germany. We visited these hospitals and clinics and report on the state of their treatment.<BR>Four-week programs in chronic pain, traditional Chinese medicine, natural therapy, and traditional Japanese medicine with aromatherapy are given at these facilities. Moreover, Complementary and Alternative medicines are widely covered by public or private insurance. And one reason for the spread of Integrative Medicine may be these social conditions, in addition to historical background.
ABSTRACT
The 15th international conference of ICMART was held from the 25th to 27th of May 2012 in Athens, Greece, under the theme of "The Point where all Different Ideas Meet."There were 210 participants. In addition to lectures on general subjects, eight topics were examined in depth during eight separate sessions. Ten workshops were held. The overall quality of the presentations appeared to be high. For visitors who were unable to attend some of the lectures because of lectures being held at the same times, the meeting time was managed in such a way that time for providing summarized explanations on the contents of all lectures was arranged every day. Furthermore, a questionnaire survey was conducted on visitors'motives for attending the conference and on the current situation of acupuncture in various countries. On the basis of the aggregate survey results, discussions were conducted. Starting this year, participation in the conference has been restricted to only physicians and veterinarians. I was allowed to attend the conference at the request of The Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, for news coverage. The topic of my report was "the diagnostic results and treatment of the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake based on traditional medicine."
ABSTRACT
The Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster that occurred on March 11, 2011 seriously destroyed Japanese social activities the medical system included. We provided medical support to the damaged area, and mainly performed Oriental medicine. Traditional methods using physical diagnoses and the treatments with herbs, acupuncture, and massage were effective, where any infrastructure had suffered or any modern medical facilities had been destroyed. Acute phase infectious disease, common colds, and hypothermia were dominant. Allergies increased two weeks later, and there was much mental distress, and chronic pain symptoms one month later. We prescribed Kampo herbal medicines for common colds, hypothermia, allergies, and mental distress. Moreover, we also performed acupuncture and kneaded patients' body to reduce pain, stiffness, and edema. These treatments were effective for both physical and mental distress. Thus we believe that Oriental medicine is valuable in disaster situations.
ABSTRACT
Traditional Japanese medicine, Kampo, is used by over 80% of medical doctors in Japan. Owing to its high quality and safety, Kampo has been integrated into modern medicine, and there are 345 randomized controlled trials using Kampo in Japan as of 2010. Although there are a number of articles in top journals about basic science research, we can find only small numbers of high-quality clinical evidence. Since undergraduate education on Kampo has been established, integrative approach with the balanced combination of modern medicine and Kampo is expected to generate good clinical evidence in the near future.