Achievements and Prospects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at Medical University-Scientific Approach to Traditional Medicine- / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Acupuncture and moxibustion are traditional medical treatments with a long history which have been practiced since ancient times in the East and are promising therapeutic methods for many diseases and symptoms. In recent years, a large number of basic and clinical studies in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion have been reported also from Europe and United States, and expectations for establishment of acupuncture and moxibustion as integrated medicine have grown. The establishment of the Department of Oriental Medicine at Saitama Medical University goes back to the year 1984, and since then, it has been involved in the treatment, research and education for about 25 years. <BR>As to the treatment, close coordination with other departments has been developed;now, the number of patients seeking acupuncture and moxibustion treatment exceeds half of the total patient population, and some of the patients receive inpatient treatment. Acupuncture and moxibustion are given to patients with intractable pain, paralysis, or a series of unidentified complaints, for which the treatments have been found to be highly effective. It has been suggested that acupuncture and moxibustion are likely to play an important role in the setting of a medical university hospital.<BR>As to the research, basic and clinical studies on acupuncture and moxibustion have been promoted, and effects and mechanism of action of acupuncture and moxibustion were investigated in the treatment of primary headache, stroke, facial palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, nonspecific low back pain, etc. Studies using autonomic nerve function and immunity as indices of characteristics of the traditional medicine were conducted for their scientific elucidation. <BR>In future, it is essential to enhance further coordination with specialists of other treatment departments, demonstrate efficacy and usefulness of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, and promote evidence-based research work. It is my desire to give Japanese traditional medicine of acupuncture and moxibustion a clear position within medical university, have them established as integral medicine, and to offer to the world Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.