The birth of Oriental Medicine, including Acupuncture and Moxibustion, is attributed to Chinese civilization and is thought to have occurred in the Yellow River valley 2000 years ago. The contributing factors establishing Oriental medicine included the development of city-states designed to unite the country under a single authority. The governors of these city-states wisely designed policies to make the health of the people a top priority.
In the middle of the 6th century Acupuncture and Moxibustion spread into Japan. From the enactment of the "Taiho Code"(701 AD) until the promulgation of the "Modern Medical System"(1878) these modalities were recognized as the National Medicine of Japan.
During the Nara and Heian period (8-12 c), Japanese practitioners mainly accepted and learned the Chinese style of acupuncture and moxibustion. After the Kamakura period (13-14 c), during the Muromachi and Azuchi Momoyama periods (15-16 c), and into the Edo period (17-19 c), the original character of Japanese-style acupuncture and moxibustion began to develop unique characteristics.
Here, I have to specifically mention that a Portuguese ship arrived at Tanegashima Island in 1543, after which the cultures of Spain and the Netherlands influenced Japanese culture. Of course these foreign influences spread to the field of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.
During the Edo period, Japan closed its borders to foreign influences. During this time Japan traded only with China, Korea and the Netherlands. These trade routes, the merchandise, and exchange of information did not directly or immediately influence Japan, but they did play an important role in future cultural trends. Especially in the medical field, through trade with China, and Korea, Japan continued to accept information about Oriental Medicine. Likewise, through trade with the Netherlands, Western medical innovation gradually became popular.
In this way, Japan received the latest medical information from the forerunners of the world's medicine of that period. Naturally, the use of both traditional and modern modalities increases. As a result, Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion practitioners deepened their knowledge of classic texts, and made good use of the information from China and Korea. Significant innovations of this period include the concept of inserting acupuncture needles through a guide tube, more thorough abdominal diagnoses according to Chinese theories, and increasing acceptance of Western medicine theories. During the Edo period, developments in Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion would sustain the progress of these medical fields up to and into the Meiji era.
These developments included changes in the medical system, education, and research of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion.

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Looking back upon the history of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion from the Meiji era to the present day, this study (research paper) confirms the changes in Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion according to certain points of specific features such as the education system and the progress, and growth of medical study.

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[Objective]Daily repetitive exercise is known to be necessary for players in sports. In this study, to further explore the potential functions of acupuncture, we studied whether electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation has efficacy for repetitive exercise-induced oxidative stress.
[Methods]Six healthy male volunteers participated in both the non-treatment control group and the EA group in a crossover design. EA stimulation was applied to both the medial vastus muscles at 2 Hz and optimum intensity for each subject during ten min just before each exercise period. The subject performed ergometer exercise for 20 min with 75%of maximal oxygen uptake each day. This exercise period was performed once a day for three consecutive days. Blood lactate level (BLL) and plasma lipid peroxide (LP) concentration were measured as the markers for metabolism and oxidative stress, respectively. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the individual level of fatigue due to exercise.
[Results]During and just after the exercise period, each value of BLL in the EA group was lower than the same points in the control group. Whereas LP concentrations before the exercise period on the first day in the control group was higher than the values in the same points on the second and third days. LP concentrations before the exercise period in the EA group were almost the same levels for three days. Furthermore, after the exercise period for the three consecutive days, LP concentrations and VAS in the EA group were lower than each value of the same points in the control group, and especially, the alteration of VAS showed a significant difference.
[Conclusion]The increased tendency of LP concentrations before the exercise period for three days in the control group indicated that repetitive exercise induced the accumulation of excess lipid peroxide. It might be suggested that EA stimulation suppressed subjective fatigue by an enhanced energy metabolic rate and decreased production of lipid peroxide. Hence the evidence strongly supported that EA stimulation might be useful for sports conditioning.

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[Objective]To analyze the situation of clinics that want to employ acupuncturists and masseurs and to obtain basic data to find employment in the clinic in the future.
[Methods]The subjects were 52 clinics that responded to the questionnaire survey saying they wanted to employ acupuncture and massage therapists. They were divided into three groups according to the license (acupuncture group (n = 5), acupuncture &massage group (n = 25), massage group (n = 22)). The situation and the business realities of the clinic were analyzed.
[Results]Clinics with obstetrics and gynecology want to employ only acupuncturists. There were as many employment needs for both acupuncturists and masseurs in clinics with orthopedics and rehabilitation. The employment satisfaction rating is higher for the patient's need standpoint than cost-effectiveness.
[Conclusion]We analyzed the status of clinics that want to employ acupuncturists and masseurs. This study is expected to help promote the employment of medical acupuncturists and masseurs.

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[Objective]To investigate whether acupuncture is effective to prevent fatigue and oxidative stress in distance runners.
[Methods]A total of 17 runners were recruited and randomized to receive acupuncture (Press Tack Needle) or placebo treatment. Subjects received treatment from licensed acupuncturists before a 10 km race. The primary outcome measures were oxidative stress, as determined by electron spin resonance (ESR), and fatigue, as assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures were GOT, LDH, and CPK.
[Results]Fatigue was significantly increased in both groups after the race. There was no difference in both groups.
Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity tended to increase in both groups after the race.
[Conclusion]The study found no useful acupuncture aspects of oxidative stress and fatigue.

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[Objective]To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the control of lower back pain of sailors that participated in the National Sports Festival of Japan to assess whether or not acupuncture can be used as a pre and post race treatment.
[Methods]The study was conducted at the National Sports Festival of Japan sailing games. The focus was on sailor's complaints of lower back pain. Acupuncture treatment for lower back pain was executed pre and/or post race, and the respective therapeutic effect was evaluated. Acupuncture was executed by several techniques and on several points of the lower back.
The depth of insertion was the most critical criteria and must be shallow. The insertion depth of the study was approximately 5 mm.
Acupuncture points were chosen by the therapist. The insertion point was selected based on characteristics such as tenderness and induration of tissue. As needed, the dermis was stimulated continuously utilizing the acupuncture needle. The effect of acupuncture treatment was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
[Results]Lower back pain in sailors was alleviated by acupuncture and decreased by a VAS value (p < 0.01). The result was the same in pre and/or post race patients. Organic disease was confirmed in 19.0%of the patients. Both lumbar disc herniation and isthmic spondylolisthesis were diagnosed. There were no adverse events.
[Conclusion]Acupuncture was an effective treatment method and as such can be used as a method of treatment of sailors at pre or post race. However, to attain the maximum efficacy, the depth of the needle insertion must be shallow.

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The World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) 2011 International Acupuncture Conference was held in Sao Paolo, Brazil on November 5 - 6, 2011. The theme was "Traditional Medicine and Human Health -Acupuncture Research, Education, Regulamentation and Clinical Practice."
This was the first conference of WFAS in the Central and South American region. It was highlighted that acupuncture is included in the public health system of Brazil and supported by Brazilian government.
At the executive meeting which was held on the 4th, it was announced that Extra points nomenclature and location would be on the next standardization table. Also, the preparation process of the International Acupuncture Proficiency Test was reported. They announced that they would run International Multicenter Clinical Trials in the newly established Scientific Working Committee of WFAS.
Conference organization showed serious confusion. A protest letter from the domestic organizing committee was delivered. It led to the sudden cancelation of the closing ceremony.

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I participated in the WFAS 2011 International Acupuncture Symposium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was the first conference in South America, on the theme of Traditional Medicine and Human Health. I had opportunities in this conference to survey and cover the history, situation and regulamentation of acupuncture in Brazil, in addition to the situation of Japanese Acupuncture taking root in Brazil. Iwould like to report it with some informations from the brazilian authorities.

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