The feasibility of women in medicine and acupuncture

68th Annual Congress of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in AICHI

Abstract

Japan has faced problems of declining birth rate and aging. Acupuncture has gained popularity among the various complementary medicines available and many go privately to have acupuncture while undergoing in vitro　fertilization(IVF). Although acupuncture has gained increasing popularity in the management of infertility, its effectiveness has remained controversial.Whether it is benetifical in terms of improvimg the live birth rate in IVF still remains subject to further well constructed randomized controlled studies. 　Obesity, defined as an excess of body fat, is a growing public health crisis that is associated with the development of many disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease . Menopause causes a deterioration of lipid metabolism and increases the tendency to obesity. Ovariectomized mice have been used to study changes in postmenopause metabolism and reported to gain weight due to changes in lipid metabolism, as do menopausal women. Alzheimer's disease is associated with the unprecedented aging tendency in　our world population and has become a significant health issue. In addition to a rapid acceleration of the aging progress, Alzheimer's disease is a severe affliction in patients and a heavy burden on their families and society. 　Prevention of obesity and Alzheimer's disease becomes a largest matter of concern not only for medicine but also for health economics.We conclude that the partnership between acupuncture and conventional medicine is an effective treatment for obesity and Alzheimer's disease.