Preface to the special issue on international standards of acupuncturemoxibustion by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies Looking at the future from a historical perspective:the development and prospects of acupuncture standards

Acupuncture,an essential component of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),displays a 5,o00-year history in China.Since the 5th century,acupuncture has spread globally and it is currently practiced in 196 countries.In November 2010,the United Nations Educational,Scientific,and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)included"Acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine"in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,signifying its relevance to the culture of humankind worldwide.TCM,as the culmination of ancient Chinese science,relies on standardized practices for acupuncture to ensure its development,growth,and widespread application.As early as two thousand years ago,the shapes and sizes of nine classical needles and 150 specific acupoints,along with their related treatment targets,have already been documented by the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic.

East Meets West, Acupuncture Benefits the World “The Beauty of China”——TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion into UNESCO Headquarters

On November 15th,2018,"Special Events of World Acupuncture-Moxibustion Day into UNESCO"were held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris,France,to celebrate the 8th anniversary of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncturemoxibustion being inscribed on the"Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity".

International Communication of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Popular in the West

With the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)acupuncture and moxibustion,research on acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western world is deepening.The concept of acupuncture and moxibustion popular in the West is formed.By investigating the localization of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western world,this paper introduces several kinds of acupuncture and moxibustion popular in the West and concludes the spread of acupuncture and moxibustion popular in the West through hospitals and clinics,academic works,social organizations,education,and training.This paper provides a global vision developing domestic acupuncture and moxibustion and promoting academic prosperity and technical progress of world acupuncture and moxibustion system.

The effect of head and facial massage on sleep condition after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background:Sleep disorders after heart surgery lead to increased heart rate,myocardial oxygen demand,and cause dysrhythmia that worsens heart ischemia.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of head and facial massage on sleep conditions following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.Materials and methods:A randomized controlled trial was performed on 72 patients.They were randomly divided into interventional(n=36)and control groups(n=36).On the third to fifth day after the operation,head and the facial massage were done for 15 min in the intervention group.The patients in the control group received only routine care.Richard Campbell’s Sleep Questionnaire was completed for four consecutive days for each group.Data were analyzed in SPSS V26.Results:Mean scores for sleep conditions before the intervention no statistically significant difference seen between the two groups(P>0.05).After the intervention,there was a statistically significant difference between mean scores for sleep conditions of the interventional and control groups(P<0.001).Also with general estimated equation test compared mean scores for sleep conditions between two groups.That revealed sleep condition total score in the intervention group was more than the control group and the trend of changes over time was statistically significant(P<0.001).Conclusion:Head and facial massage is an effective nursing intervention in improving the sleep condition of patients after coronary artery bypass graft.Due to the fact that head and face massage is an easy method and brings patient satisfaction,it is recommended to use this method as a suitable supplement for drug therapy and postoperative interventions in these patients.

Regional brain structural abnormality in ischemic stroke patients:a voxel-based morphometry study

Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these brain regions by taking structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 11 ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy participants, and analyzing the data using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with healthy participants, patients exhibited higher gray matter density in the left inferior occipital gyrus and right anterior white matter tract. In contrast, gray matter density in the right cerebellum, left precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus was less in ischemic stroke patients. The changes of gray matter density in the middle frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the clin- ical rating scales of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment （r = -0.609, P = 0.047） and the left middle temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with the clinical rating scales of the nervous functional deficiency scale （r = -0.737, P = 0.010）. Our findings call objectively identify the functional abnormality in some brain regions of ischemic stroke patients.

WFAS 7th General Assembly and 7th World Acupuncture Congress held with great success in Strasbourg,France

The 7th World Acupuncture Congress of World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies （WFAS） were held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on November 5th of 2009. The congress was co-sponsored by World Health Organization （WHO） and World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies （WFAS）, co-organized by CFA-MTC and APEMEC, member groups of WFAS. Over 400 representatives from 45 countries and regions took part in the congress, making it the largest-scale event in the international acupuncture community in recent years. Acupuncture societies and delegates from around the globe convened to make joint efforts to promote the development of acupuncture worldwide. They exchanged experiences in applying acupuncture at the highest level around the world.

Investigation of international demand for Clinical Practice Guidelines of Acupuncture and moxibustion:A cross-sectional study

Objective:This study aims to get the medical management of acupuncture and moxibustion in the countries and regions where the society members of World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies(WFAS)are located,including the educational background of acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners and the local clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion,and the demands of the content and evidence types of Clinical Practice Guidelines(CPGs)of acupuncture and moxibustion in accordance with WFAS standards,so as to provide requirements and reference principles for the development of CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion in accordance with WFAS standards.Methods:The convenient sampling method was used to collect the questionnaires,and the WFAS secretariat distributed the questionnaires to 294 contacts of society members from 70 countries and regions in the form of Questionnaire Star four times in April 2020,July 2020,March 2021,and April 2021 respectively.They were then distributed to individual members of acupuncture-moxibustion societies by the contacts.The study content involved the basic information of respondents,including their nationality,occupation,educational background of acupuncture and moxibustion,their local clinical practice and medical management of acupuncture and moxibustion,as well as their demand for CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion,etc.After the questionnaires were collected,the data were analyzed and described by quantitative research method.Results:In all,302 respondents from 37 countries of six continents responded.The 302 respondents were members of the WFAS society members.(1)Basic information of respondents.They all had acupuncture and moxibustion learning experience,among which,76.5%(231/302)had the education background of acupuncture and moxibustion professional college training,and 88.4%(267/302)had experience of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice.Acupuncturists or traditional Chinese medicine doctors accounted for 63.9%(193/302),western medicine doctors,nurses,and pharmacists accounted for 18.2%(55/302),and researchers and teachers accounted for 6.3%(19/302).(2)Local clinical practice and medical management of acupuncture and moxibustion.The level of clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion varies greatly among the regions where the WFAS society members lived.Among them,more countries in Europe have not included acupuncture and moxibustion in medical insurance than those in other continents(x^(2)=26.049,P<0.01),and more countries have not included acupuncture and moxibustion in public hospital treatment system than those in other continents(x^(2)=113.488,P<0.01).(3)Demand for CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion.A total of 93.0%(281/302)respondents believed that WFAS CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion would be helpful for their local practice.The order of their demand and concern for WFAS CPGs was:acupuncture manipulation>latest progress of acupuncture treatment>choice of acupuncture therapies>safety of acupuncture and moxibustion>combination of acupuncture and other programs.A total of 87.4%(264/302)respondents believed that ancient classics could guide clinical practice,and the ancient literature should be used as evidence for the development of guidelines.Conclusion:The respondents are those future practitioners of CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion conforming to WFAS standards.Commonly they have clinical practice experience and professional education background.They believe that guidelines will be of help to the clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion,hope that WFAS CPGs would recommend effective guidelines for acupuncture manipulation and provide the latest progress in acupuncture treatment and so on,and they believe that classical ancient books can guide their clinical practice.It indicates the necessity and feasibility of formulating the WFAS CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion.In view of the results of this study,it is suggested that the formulation process of WFAS CPGs of acupuncture and moxibustion should take into account the clinical practice level of acupuncture and moxibustion in each region,as well as its legislation and management situation of acupuncture and moxibustion,so as to meet the needs of users as much as possible.

Clinical observation on Wang Juyi＇s applied channel theory in treating stroke-sequel patients

OBJECTIVE:To explore the advantages of acupuncture treatment guided by channel palpation on stroke-sequel patients.METHODS:This research was randomized,traditional acupuncture controlled trial using channel palpation acupuncture to treat stroke-sequel patients.Totally 148 patients who were randomly assigned to two experimental groups.The treatment group,i.e,the channel palpation group was treated with Dr.Wang Juyi's Channel Palpation.Patients in control group received acupuncture according to New Century Acupuncture.Every patient was needled at Renzhong(GV 26),Baihui(GV 20),Neiguan(PC 6),Jiquan(HT 1),Chize(LU 5),Weizhong(BL 40),Sanyinjiao(SP 6),Zusanli(ST 36),and each acupuncture treatment was modified according different syndrome differentiations including liver yang rising [Taichong(LR 3),Taixi(KI 3)],wind-phlegm blocking collaterals [Fenglong(ST 40),Hegu(LI 4)],phlegm-heat occupying in the Fu-organs [Quchi(LI11),Neiting(ST 44),Fenglong(ST 40)],Qi deficiency with blood stasis [Qihai(CV 6),Xuehai(SP 10)],Yin Deficiency with wind [Taixi(KI 3),Fengchi(GB 20)];for wry mouth,add Jiache(ST 6),Dicang(ST 4);for paralyzed arms,add Jianyu(LI 15),Quchi(LI 11),Shousanli(LI 10) and Hegu(LI 4),for paralyzed legs,add Huantiao(GB 30),Yinlingquan(SP 9) and Fengshi(GB 31).The duration of each treatment was 6 weeks.Then the Fugl-Meyer score,the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale(SS-QOL),and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) were assessed before treatments,after 6 and 12 weeks of treatments to evaluate the acupuncture effect in each group.The data were collected and analyzed after the completion of treatment by SPSS 17 using paired sample t-test.RESULTS:Totally 148 participants were recruited,and 136 eligible patients were included in this study.The results showed that for FMA motor function and Fugl-Meyer balance function and NIHSS,there is no statistic difference between two groups at the baseline period,after 6-week treatment and after 12-week follow-up(P > 0.05);However,for NIHSS and SS-QOL,there is no statistic difference between two groups at the baseline period and 6 weeks after treatment(P > 0.05).However,statistical difference starts to appear after 12-week(P =0.028,0.037 < 0.05).CONCLUSION:We conclude that as for improving the nerve function and the quality of life,Dr.Wang Juyi's Applied Channel Theory presents a better clinical result.

Effect of acupuncture plus conventional treatment on brain activity in ischemic stroke patients: a regional homogeneity analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in cerebral activity evoked by acupuncture and conventional stroke treatment, and identify the treatment targets.METHODS: In total, 21 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A(11 patients) received both acupuncture and conventional treatment, while group B(10 patients) received conventional treatment only. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(f MRI) was performed on each participant before and after treatment. Regional homogeneity analysis was performed to investigate the potential mechanism of acupuncture treatment by comparing differences in cerebral activity between treatments.RESULTS: Group A showed higher Re Ho in the frontal lobe(BA6, BA46), supra-marginal gyrus(BA40),middle temporal gyrus(BA21), cerebellum, and insula. Group B showed higher Re Ho in the frontal lobe(BA6) and parietal lobe(BA3, BA7).CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and conventional treatment triggered relatively different clinical efficacy and brain responses. Acupuncture treatment more significantly improved the symptoms of stroke patients. More marked changes in sensory,emotional, and motor areas(including the frontal lobe, middle temporal gyrus, cerebellum, and insula) might reflect the specific acupuncture mechanism.