International situation surrounding Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Currently, the international environment surrounding traditional medicine, including acupuncture and moxibustion, is changing faster than we can imagine. In recent years there are some Far East Asian countries that have registered the classical medical books of traditional medicine and a part of traditional medicines in their own countries to the Memory of the World and the Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO. In addition, preparations to include traditional medicine in ICD-11 have been carried out with revision of ICD-10 in WHO. Furthermore, the working of international standardization of traditional medicine of Far East Asia is underway in ISO. Also WFAS is working on the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in an official relationship with WHO. Furthermore, genetic resources and traditional knowledge related to traditional medicine have been discussed in CBD. The matters concerning traditional medicine have been discussed separately elsewhere in a wide variety of international organizations such as WIPO, WTO/TRIPS and FAO.<BR>In this panel discussion, firstly, we outlined the main points about the protection of traditional knowledge by CBD and the Nagoya Protocol, clarified the current status of discussions in WIPO about traditional medicine and registration of traditional knowledge under the Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO, and examined future protection of traditional knowledge of acupuncture and moxibustion. Secondly, we summarized the current status and progress of the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion driven by WFAS as commissioned by WHO, clarified the viewpoint of JSAM about problems with the efforts of WFAS for the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion, and discussed the relationship of the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in WFAS and ISO. Finally, we summarized the progress of the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion from the 1980s when international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion was first initiated by WHO up until the present when international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion is included in ISO/TC249, surveyed the present situation of the international standardization of traditional medicine in the countries that are leading the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion, and discussed about the aspects of the struggle for supremacy lurking behind the international standardization of traditional medicine and the issues associated with the future of the international standardization of traditional medicine.

Report on WFAS 2011 International Acupuncture Conference in Sao Paolo, Brazil / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) 2011 International Acupuncture Conference was held in Sao Paolo, Brazil on November 5 - 6, 2011. The theme was "Traditional Medicine and Human Health -Acupuncture Research, Education, Regulamentation and Clinical Practice."<BR>This was the first conference of WFAS in the Central and South American region. It was highlighted that acupuncture is included in the public health system of Brazil and supported by Brazilian government.<BR>At the executive meeting which was held on the 4th, it was announced that Extra points nomenclature and location would be on the next standardization table. Also, the preparation process of the International Acupuncture Proficiency Test was reported. They announced that they would run International Multicenter Clinical Trials in the newly established Scientific Working Committee of WFAS.<BR>Conference organization showed serious confusion. A protest letter from the domestic organizing committee was delivered. It led to the sudden cancelation of the closing ceremony.

Report on the 2010 international conference of the society for acupuncture research translational research in acupuncture:Bridging science, practice &community / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The 2010 International Conference of the Society for Acupuncture Research was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Chapel Hill NC, on March 19-21, 2010. Workshops were also held on the 18th.<BR>This conference was co-hosted by University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine &Rehabilitation. The theme was Translational Research (TR) in Acupuncture:Bridging Science, Practice &Community. A total of 238 registrations were made before the conference from 19 countries and regions, 141 from the US, 36 from South Korea, 16 from China, 9from Japan, 8from the UK etc.<BR>Practicing TR was encouraged with recognition that the findings in the basic scientific research were not applied to clinical trials, or findings in clinical trials to clinical practice as well.

Report on WFAS 2010 International Acupuncture Conference in the US / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) 2010 International Acupuncture Conference was held in San Francisco USA on November 6 - 7, 2010. The theme was "Acupuncture Research, Education and Clinical Practice."<BR>At the conference, the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR), which was one of the organizers of the NIH Consensus Conference 1997, was one of the co-sponsors and also the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) presented as one of the keynote speakers. <BR>In recent years the international standardization of acupuncture related issues are moving to the forefront. WFAS is developing various standardization drafts related to acupuncture, starting with acupuncture needle regulations, which appear to be acting as a working unit of mainly Chinese ideas. WFAS has a plan to settle them as world standards through ISO, etc. However, the process of developing standard drafts does not appear democratic or fair. WFAS is indeed not democratically organized as inaccurate minutes for the executive committee meeting held at the conference contain crucial differences between the English version and the Chinese version.<BR>We need to correspond firmly to WFAS that has a formal relationship with WHO and acts high-handedly, as it leads to obstruction of fair recognition and further development of a variety of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine that has been developed in diversity in each country.

Report of 2009 WFAS General Assembly and Acupuncture Congress / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The Fifth Session of the Sixth Executive Committee (EC), the Seventh General Assembly (GA), and the First Session of the Seventh EC and 2009 World Acupuncture Congress of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion societies (WFAS) were held at European parliament in Strasbourg, France on 3-7 November 2009.<BR>New EC members for the year of 2009-2013were elected in the GA. The Seventh EC commenced and now consists of 49 members. Host countries for the future meetings were also approved.<BR>In the Seventh EC, the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (JSAM) made a proposal regarding WFAS administrative duties. It consisted of eight items, and among them, the request for making the minutes of EC meetings was most important because WFAS EC meeting minutes have never been sent to the EC members except once, for the Bali, Indonesia meeting in 2006.<BR>Papers regarding acupuncture education, legislation, traditional research and scientific research were also presented in the academic meeting.<BR>JSAM will continue to support the enhancement of the academic level of WFAS and make any necessary proposals toward the further development of WFAS.

Report of 2009 WFAS University Cooperation Working Committee and WFAS Standard Working Committee / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The WFAS University Cooperation Working Committee and WFAS Standard Working Committee were held during 2009 WFAS World Acupuncture Congress at European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on 6 November 2009. Publishing an International Textbook of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was proposed in the WFAS University Cooperation Working Committee. Also establishing Making WFAS standards on acupuncture needles, nomenclature and location of auricular points, manipulation of moxibustion, and manipulation of scalp acupuncture were discussed and proposed in the WFAS Standard Working Committee.