Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/jijico/articles/32330/
Modified and translated by CFJA
Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Bone-Setting Therapy as Branches of Kampo
In Japan, acupuncture and moxibustion treatments have been practiced since ancient times. Recently, terms like “beauty acupuncture” and “okyu-joshi” (women using moxibustion) have emerged. Acupuncture and moxibustion are widely accepted forms of medicine in Japan. However, many people may not realize that acupuncture and moxibustion are part of Kampo medicine and that Japanese acupuncture techniques set a global standard. There is a strong perception that “Kampo” refers to herbal medicine and that “acupuncture and moxibustion” are Chinese practices.
In the Edo period, Japanese traditional medicine was called 本道”hondo,” but with the introduction of modern medicine in the Meiji era, it became known as漢方 “Kampo.” Kampo encompasses acupuncture, moxibustion, blood stasis treatment(cupping), judo therapy(bone-settling), herbal medicine, massage therapy, dietary therapy, exercise therapy, and more.
Historically, it was said, “first acupuncture, second moxibustion, and third herbal medicine.” The approach was to first perform acupuncture when ill, then moxibustion if there was no effect, followed by herbal medicine, either alone or in combination with acupuncture and moxibustion. Kampo treatment involves integrating massage therapy, exercise therapy, and dietary therapy, among others, into a holistic approach. Acupuncture has traditionally been the primary treatment method, and after 40 years of clinical practice, I can attest to its efficacy.
Acupuncture is a treatment that can yield noticeable results in 10 to 15 minutes, making it valuable in emergency situations where there are no medical facilities or diagnostic equipment, helping alleviate pain and prevent the worsening of conditions. Additionally, judo therapy(bone-settling), a uniquely Japanese medical technique, can provide first aid and diagnosis for fractures and dislocations even without X-rays. During the Great East Japan Earthquake, many acupuncturists and judo therapists(bone-setters) volunteered their services.
Acupuncture,Moxibustion and judo therapy(bone-settling)hold infinite potential for 21st-century futuristic medicine.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion: From Surgical to Internal Medicine Treatment
In ancient Japan, local medical practices existed until around 400 AD (Kofun period), when acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal treatments from China via the Korean Peninsula were introduced, leading to a fusion of Japanese and Chinese medicine. Acupuncture did not originate in China but was practiced worldwide, with similar treatments also being used in Japan. Moxibustion, according to Chinese texts, is believed to have been introduced to China from Mongolia. However, the current style of moxibustion, involving burning mugwort, is thought to have originated in China.
In 701 AD (Asuka period), Japan established the Taihō Code (the first comprehensive set of laws in Japan), which included the Ishituryō (medical regulations) system, comprising physicians (internal medicine), acupuncturists (surgeons for incisions and pus drainage), and massage therapists (orthopedists for fractures). By around 984, when Tamba no Yasuyori, the most accomplished “needle doctor,” presented the medical book *Ishinpo* (a national treasure) to the court, acupuncture and moxibustion were being used for both surgical and internal medicine purposes.
At the time, physicians mainly used herbal medicine, but since importing herbs (crude drugs) from China and Korea was challenging and restricted to a few, acupuncture and moxibustion developed as alternatives for internal medicine.
This story covers the period from ancient times to the Kamakura period, similar to a history lesson. 2 years ago, in NHK’s Taiga drama “The 13 Lords of the Shogun,” Minamoto no Yoritomo received acupuncture treatment after a fall from a horse. It was unlikely that high-quality herbs were available in Kamakura at the time, so records show that acupuncture was performed as an urgent treatment. I contributed to the historical research for this series, highlighting the role of acupuncturists.