Volume 1, Special Edition | Current Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2010

Acupuncture in Japan - Clinical Applications

was based on tradition, a Japanese form of acupuncture andShuichi Katai, Hiromichi Yasui
Committee of Japanese Acupuncture - Annual Report

moxibustion integrating new concepts emerged. Continuing
to the present, this was the time in which the foundations ofIntroduction

modern acupuncture and moxibustion were laid.

The skills and theory of acupuncture and moxibustion

Compared with today, western medicine at that time had

are based on experience. Both contain many things thatnot yet achieved a satisfactory level of proficiency. Thiscannot be verified through case series studies or randomized

allowed for an abundance of experiences with acupuncture

controlled clinical trials. The clinical abilities of a single

and moxibustion for the treatment of many different diseases.

excellent acupuncturist may exceed the clinical experiences

Today, acupuncture and moxibustion are used mainly for theof 100 people. Attempts at imitating the therapy performed

treatment of pain, but are used as an excellent therapy

by really outstanding acupuncturists often do not yield thesame results. Follow-up studies have revealed that the skillsof acupuncturists are very important. In contrast to theapplication of drugs, with acupuncture and moxibustion, theskills of the individual therapist plays an extremely importantrole. Clinical trials are an effective method to verify theefficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion. Although certain
aspects defy verification using this methodology, they should
not be considered ineffective.

applicable to disease in all fields of medicine. The fact that it
is not only described in the literature, but proven in practiceas well, demonstrates its value in today’s health care system.
These experiences have not lost their validity to the presentday.
Similar to China, Japan produced a number ofacupuncture and moxibustion masters and the work of thesepeople has been driving the development of Japanese styleacupunctureandmoxibustion.

Verificationof

themethodology of these masters, as well as an analysis of their

Acupuncturists in command of outstanding skills may
be called masters (sensei). It should be noted that the clinicalpractice of masters in this art cannot be elucidated using
research methodologiesNote1).

clinics, are a task for future research. What follows is areview of modern medical research, including case studies
thatarerepresentative

examplesoftheoriginal

characteristics of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion.

Following the Meiji restoration in 1968, the newgovernment

decidedtoadopt

Germanmedicine.

Subsequently, acupuncture and moxibustion were entrusted

Note 1)
Genzo

Kanbe

hadbeenamasterofneedle

to acupuncturists and not to physicians. Yet, for this very

manufacturing during the latter half of the 20th century inreason the influence of western medicine decreased, so thatJapan. He needled each individual using carefully hand-madethe original form of the tradition was handed down andneedles. These were used by outstanding acupuncturists ofprovided the foundation for its present status.

the age who achieved excellent therapeutic results.

This situation prevailed for about half a century, during

When Kanbe lost his home during a bombardment of

which time the search for a new perspective was pursued.

Tokyo by the American army during World War II in

The new government, with its policy of national prosperity

December 1945, he stayed temporarily at the house ofand defense, prepared the ground for the cultivation of folk

relatives in the suburbs of Tokyo. His intense work schedule

medicine in its attempt to maintain the health of the people

led to the development of acute pneumonia. At that time,and provide a means of improving the health of the young.

antibiotics, like penicillin, had not yet found widespread

Acupuncture is considered to be an extremely powerful tool

application in Japan. Before he lost consciousness due to thefor this purpose.

high fever, he fortunately told the famous acupuncturist Sodo

In the 1920s, a sudden burst of new activities occurred

Okabe about his condition. Hearing about this emergency,

in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion. Even though itOkabe rushed to Kanbe, but his consciousness had already46

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 1, Special Edition | Current Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2010

become so clouded that he could not answer Okabe'sHe said he had been so absorbed in the treatment that he didquestioning. Okabe observed the symptoms, checked thenot remember. Yet, he said, that under similar circumstances,pulse and then started his treatment.

he would not needle the trunk. Deducting from thisKanbe describes his recollections of the event in hisstate of clouded consciousness as follows.

statement, I presume that he had carefully tonified andsedated the relevant command points on the arms and legs.

"Each individual needle placed by master Okabe was

The clinical practice of masters frequently takes thisvery effective. I was under the impression that a thick needle

form. The skills of master Okabe could not be reproduced by

had struck an evil lump that made me cough up phlegm.

anybody else, so that a large number of artists and politicians

Next, more phlegm came up. Following the expectoration ofof that time became his patients. He also went to Moscow tothe phlegm I started to feel better and the fever fell. I was

treat General Zukov of former Russia. The famoues Japanese

told that he had used 50 mm gold needles with a diameter ofpainter, Taikan Yokoyama loved his needles throughout his

0.2 mm, but to me they had felt like very thick needles. Thislife.

event made me painfully aware that with increasing skill,even application of very thin needles can evoke the feeling ofThe clinical applications in other specialized fields thanthick needles. After my complete recovery I asked master

those discussed here are also reported in the Journal ofOkabe where exactly he had needled me.

Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine.

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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