Role of Acupuncture in Internal Medicine
10.3777/jjsam.59.452
- VernacularTitle:内科領域における鍼灸治療の可能性
- Author:
Yoshiharu YAMAMURA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
internal medicine;
acupuncture and moxibustion;
respiratory disorders;
gastrointestinal disorders;
diabets
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2009;59(5):452-463
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
We have been utilized acupuncture and moxibustion in our department of internal medicine at Meiji University of Integrative Medicine since its investment in 1987. In the department, various kinds of symptoms in the field of internal medicine have been managed with acupuncture and moxibustion. In this article, I would like to introduce our activities regarding acupuncture treatment in the department of internal medicine and some remarkable results of our clinical studies which evaluated effects of acupuncture and moxibustion as well as relationship between acupuncture therapists and the staff of our department. In the field of respiratory disorders such as COPD or bronchial asthma, usefulness of acupuncture have been proved through a controlled clinical trial which involved COPD patients who had not been able to control with standard care. Also, acupuncture was found to be useful in the management of bronchial asthma in a case series study in which acupuncture treatment was repeatedly applied with intervals without acupuncture. We have also demonstrated that acupuncture was useful for gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Results of a case series with n-of-1 study design showed significant reduction in the symptoms during acupuncture treatment, while those in the period without acupuncture had been aggravated. Data from studies on diabetic complications such as peripheral neuropathy or gastropathy also showed usefulness of acupuncture. We considered that it is valuable to explore unknown usefulness of acupuncture in the field of internal medicine and prove effectiveness of acupuncture with appropriate scientific manner.
