There has been numerous researches done attempting to prove the efficacy of acupuncture. Many results do support the efficacy of acupuncture, yet clinical practice guidelines are still inconsistent in recommendations about acupuncture. The stronger evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture is urgently required.
SEIDO association has started the revolutionary research project with Hokuto hospital in Hokkaido, Japan. I visited there this month and witnessed a promising future of acupuncture.
Hokuto hospital is located in the northern part of Japan. It was surrounded by snow when I visited there.
Hokuto hospital is leading many innovative researches. SEIDO association has started the acupuncture research project using MEG(Magnetoencephalography) with Hokuto hospital.
MEG is an imaging technique which measures the magnetic fields produced by neuronal activity in the brain. There are several researches of acupuncture using fMRI, but there are only a few with MEG. This project will clear some parts of unknown mechanisms of acupuncture.
Dr. Yachi, the deputy representative of SEIDO association, is treating a patient in MEG room. A patient is scanned before and after an acupuncture treatment. Only one acupuncture point is selected for each patient for the current project.
SEIDO acupuncture is perfect for this project, as it works immediately with the minimum number of needles. The project started the end of last year, and the data of over 30 patients were already collected. An research paper will be ready soon.
Now the project has entered the new exciting phase. The world will soon know about it...
