Acupuncture-moxibustion is an accumulation of a long period of experience in direct treatment of the human body. Still today the same types of methods occupy the main stream of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. In order to move toward more effective methods in therapy it is essential that the methods used be effective and objective and that comparative examination with other methods be conducted.
I discovered that acupuncture administered to the area of muscle contracture at the nerve radix is remarkably effective and that in comparison with other acupuncture methods is highly effective. In order to examine these effects through animal experiments I administered tetanic stimulation to the gastrocnemius muscles to weaken the contraction strength and proved that acupuncture serves to accelerate the recovery action. As this function appeared even after the nerve was severed I considered the possibility that it might be an axon reflex. The effects vanished with the administration of an axon reflex suppressant but were observed even after denervation.
It can be stated that little progress will occur unless in this manner acupuncture research is repeatedly conducted such that results are verified through a comparative examination followed by fundamental experiments in which similar pathological conditions are created in animals and the acupuncture effects and mechanism verified.

Acupuncture and moxibustion were introduced to Japan from China and handed down for 1400 years by acupuncturists. On looking over back the last 100 years, these therapies, while undergoing constant improvemnet by practioners, have both found acceptance by the general population and contributed to public health and hygiene.
Among the problems of acupuncture and acupuncturists, the following points are urgent now: a) Actual proof of the clinical effect. b) Discrimination of indication. c) Reformation of education. d) Revision of the health insurance system.
Actual proof of effects of acupuncture is significant for the existence of the techniques. The discrimination of indication is important issue for acupuncturists so as not to employ the techniques for wrong cases. This must be quickly done as the chief subject of our society. The reformation of the education system for acupuncturists means adequate training of therapists and sending out qualified technicians who can answer the requests of patients. The acupuncturists society with cooperation of JSA must take the initiative in finding a quick solution to this problem. The revision of the medical insurance system means the establishment of a new system under which people can easily receive acupuncture treatment. This is, however, not a problom for the JSA but for the acupuncturists society to solve. Therefore, the insurance problem is not to be discussed in this symposium.

Until this time a great deal of research of acupuncture therapy for diabetes mellitus has appeared, however very few reports have examined the relationship with the blood sugar value in most of the cases. Using 111 cases of diabetes mellitus treated over the past 5 years as subjects we performed a clinical study of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Therapy was divided into general treatment, normally administered generally, and classified treatment administered according to specific symptoms.
From among the 111 cases, eliminating 36 cases in which therapy was discontinued within 2 months of the start and 21 cases in which blood sugar was untested, there were 54 cases in which the blood sugar count was distinct.
Results were evaluated as one of 4 ranks, Excellent, Good, Stable, Ineffective, according to the improvement in the blood sugar count.
Results were excellent in 19 cases, good in 7 cases, stable in 18 cases and ineffective in 10 cases. The blood sugar count improved in about half of the cases.
Examining the relationship between the medical history and results, and the period of treatment and results, it was found that treatment was ineffective mostly in cases in which the history was long or in cases in which treatment was discontinued within a year.
A tendency was noted for good therapeutic results to be in direct proportion to the shortness of the disease history. Considering relationship with individual symptoms, there were no ineffective cases which showed accompanying symptoms of dryness of the mouth or fatigue. No remarkable relationship between the highness or lowness of the blood sugar count and therapeutic results appeared. Excellent results were observed even in cases in which the blood sugar count was high enough to warrant the use of insulin or oral anti-diabetic drug.
Thus it can be said that acupuncture-moxibustion therapy is a treatment method of applicable value for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Using 83 assumed arthrosis deformans of the knee patients as subjects we conducted a clinical study of acupuncture therapy adding cross-insertion and twisting techniques and examined the therapeutic results in a total of 72 cases, omitting cases in which treatment was discontinued.
Treatment was divided into general treatment which was administered in all cases and classified treatment according to the specific area of pain. Results were evaluated by 4 ranks-cure, improvement, no change and aggravation of symptoms, according to the rate of improvement in pain and test results. These results indicated either cure or improvement in 67 cases (93%), that is in a large majority of the cases an improvement of symptoms was obtained with acupuncture therapy. Looking at the number of treatments, results improved respectively with the greater number of treatments. Therapeutic results were about the same in all age groups. Treatment over an extended period is necessary in cases in which the painful area feels hot upon touch however it became clear that if treatment is continued good results are obtainable.

In recent times it is generally customary to assume that the HACHIRYO points correspond with the posterior sacral formina. In order to find a way to locate these points in accordance with this general practice we took X-rays of the sacral area of 23 subjects and conducted this study. Results showed that the standard height for the distribution of the HACHIRYO points was a point halfway between the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra and the superior ridge of the middle sacral crest. We called this point the “17th vertebra”. Also the midpoint between the inferior ridge of the left and right sacral angles was determined as the “sacral angle midpoint”.
One-fourth of the way from the 17th vertebra to the sacral angle midpoint was considered the height of B-31. In the same area onetenth of the way from the sacral angle midpoint to the 17th vertebra was determined as the height of B-34. The area between B-31 and B-34 is divided into thirds to determine the heights of B-32 and B-33.
Next to determine the lateral distribution the area between the inferior ridge of the posterior-superior iliac spine and the posterior median line is used. The point laterally 3/4 of the way between these which coincides with the predetermined height of B-31 is the location of B-31. Likewise the point halfway between the inferior ridge of the posterior-superior iliac spine which coincides with the determined height of B-34 is the location of B-34. Next a slanted line is used to connect B-31 and B-34. The points along this line which coincide with the previously determined heights of B-32 and B-33 are considered the locations of these points.

From the clinical point of view of the acupuncturist 105 cases of sciatica were classified according to Interview Impressions (age, sex, affected limb, degree of pain in local areas, motor pain in lumbar vertebrae); Observation Impressions (structural disorders of lumbar vertebrae); Palpation Impressions (tenderness, sensitivity disorders); Special Test Information (SLR, Bonnet Test, ATR, PTR, muscular strength disorders, etc.); and the original disease assumed.
It was possible to assume the original disease in a high percentage -68%- that is 71 of 105 cases. Spondylosis deformans occurred in patients middle aged or over and was characterized by pain upon walking, spinous process irregularities, etc., Lumbar hernia occurred in young patients and was characterized by remarkable SLR results, tenderness between the spinous processes, etc., Slipped disc was characterized by deformation of lumbar disc arrangement, ATR disturbances, palpation disturbances, etc., Spinal canal stenosis was characterized by intermittent claudication, pain relief with anterior bending of the lumbar spine, sensory disturbance in the lower limbs, etc. In piriformis muscle syndrome cases Bonnet Test results were positive, SLR light and ATR normal.

We proved that acupuncture insertion at a 45 degree angle to the path of the gastrocnemius muscle tissue of animals serves to relieve muscle fatigue. This was done as preparatory research to determine whether good results could be obtained using this insertion method in the treatment of peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Acupuncture points used were GB-14, TAIYO, SI-18, ST-4, ST-6, ST-5 and TE-17 on the face and GB-20, GB-21, BL-38 and LI-11. Stationary insertion was administered for a period of 15 minutes using 50mm No. 20 stainless steel needles.
No results were obtained with acupuncture therapy in 2 cases in which the symptoms were the after-affects of surgery, however results were obtained in 80% of Bell's Palsy cases and 70% of Hunt Syndrome cases. Fewer treatments were required in Bell's Palsy cases. Moreover a comparison of results in a former acupuncture therapy methods group in which insertion was performed without considering the muscle path, and the cross-insertion group, showed cure in 5 Bell's Palsy cases or 42% in the former group and 8 cases or 62% in the cross-insertion group. From the fact that results were obtained in the cross-insertion group with significantly fewer treatments it was indicated that the direction of acupuncture insertion is extremely important.

In order to determine acupuncture point locations, basic points are used as indicators and a standard local scale expressed. In the classic text SENKINPO the individual finger can is described as an easy method for determining a standard local scale. To determine whether the can explained in the original text where 7 SHAKU 5 CUN is used as a standard for the body height, and the individual finger can measurements taken on the middle fingers and thumb correspond, we measured the height and bilateral middle finger and thumb lengths of a mixed group of 242 male and female subjects. Following are our results:
1. On male and female adults both left and right middle finger can measurements corresponded well. Results with school age children were similar however correlation was not as favorable as with adults.
2. Correlation with thumb can measurements was not good.
3. Classics state that for males the left hand is to be used, for females the right hand. In the adult group which showed high correlation these were compared however no significant differences between sexes was proven.
4. We compared the adult middle finger can with the body height however the local scale which varies individually also varles with the length of various parts of the body. It was shown however to be useful in point localization in precise short areas.

With the internationalization of acupuncture the worid unification of meridians and points basic to acupuncture medicine has become essential. At the present studies are underway aimed at the internationalization of meridians and meridian points. To aid in this effecrt we conducted research on the standard location of points in the scapular region and on the hands. Using the classic Writings from the SOMON thru the SHINKYU SHUEI and adopting as far as possible older classics we obtained the following results. In this study there was no need for the classic standard local scale however the distance from TE13 to the inferior angle of the scapuiar converted according to height of 6.6 fcun was established as a clinical scale. In the scapular area with the exception of SI11 all points- LI16, TE15, SI12, SI13 and G21 could be determined anatomically. On the hands thanks to protrubences, bulges, joints and so on it was possible to determine all points anatomically. This included on the Yin meridians, 2 points on the Lung Meridian, 2 points on the Pericardium Meridian, 2 points on the Heart Meridian. On the Yang meridian it included 4 points on the Large Intestine Meridian, 2 points on the Triple Warmer Meridian, 4 points on the Small Intestine Meridian. Among these the well points on the tips of the fingers were determined as 1/10 middle finger fcun above the angle of the margin occultus unguis on the respective fingers.