Effect and mechanism of acupuncture treatment on neurological disorder ―Cooperation with neurology and the achievement―

Abstract

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy are part of traditional oriental medicine, which has a history of more than 2000 years, and can have effects on many diseases and symptoms.

Our department was established in 1984, and has been engaged in medical treatment and research/education in our university. We have received requests for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy from many departments, and have demonstrated the great effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in patients with intractable pain, paralysis or a series of unidentified complaints. Acupuncture treatment has also contributed to improvement in the physical and mental QOL of these patients, and it has objectively supported the idea of oriental medicine described in classic textbooks.

Our department has also investigated the effects of acupuncture treatment on various organs, and has initiated the scientification of traditional medicine. As a result, it was suggested that acupuncture treatment contributed to alleviation of symptoms not only by mere local reactions but also through the central nervous system. Furthermore, the responses of the body to acupuncture treatment differ between individuals with diseases and symptoms and healthy people, suggesting the possibility of acupuncture treatment being involved in the recovery of the body's homeostasis. We believe that these normalizing effects of acupuncture treatment are characteristics of traditional medicine.

Thus, the clinical practice and the research on the effect and mechanisms of acupuncture treatment on neurological disorder such as the primary headaches and stroke have been promoted in cooperation with neurology.

From these results, we believe that traditional medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy will be established as a new era of medicine by fusing with modern Western medicine by further developing medical collaboration.