Role of acupuncture in the present and future / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Currently, disease patterns in Japan are centered mainly on lifestyle-related diseases and diseases of the elderly, but in addition to these, mental illnesses, including stress and depression, are also increasing. This situation is expected to worsen in the future, and therefore, more efforts for health maintenance and its promotion, disease prevention, treatment of pre-symptomatic diseases, and care after illness are required more than ever before. Acupuncture and moxibustion have set "mibyo-chi" (treatment of pre-symptomatic diseases) as the highest behavioral health goal, and it recommends health maintenance and its promotion through "regimen." Acupuncture and moxibustion are based on the principle of maximum utilization of the body's self-control system through its natural healing power, which is, so to speak, the human body's renewable energy. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been trying to apply this power for the purpose of health maintenance and its promotion, disease prevention, treatment of pre-symptomatic diseases, and care after illness, respectively. The most important objectives of acupuncture and moxibustion have been health maintenance and its promotion and treatment of pre-symptomatic diseases. In the future, if society requires medical care that incorporates a social model, the era of acupuncture and moxibustion will have arrive. Acupuncture and moxibustion are based on the principle of maximum utilization of the body's self-control system through its natural healing power.