NAJOM Editorial November 2021
Immunity is Our Priority
At this point in what has become an interminable pandemic, what is going on in our NAJOM community? As reflected in the overwhelming response to this issue’s theme, and 17 articles on the subject, we are thinking a lot about immunity. Inching away from social distancing, border closures and lockdowns in the hope of re-connecting with our fellow humans, we are becoming more cognisant of the subtler, more potent protective measures at work inside our own bodies.
Immunity is everything, a function inseparable from life itself. As Mizutani Junji emphasizes, “The development of our immune system coincided with the onset of human evolution some five million years ago in order to protect us from the surrounding environment (Nature).”
The view that we are inseparable from the processes of nature is the basis of eastern medicine. Even the little things that microbiologists look at are a part of nature. Western medicine’s focus on the very micro aspects of the cosmos, from cells to germs and genes, has given us such protections as mRNA vaccines. And, as we see in this issue, venturesome NAJOM contributors, trained in eastern medicine, are putting a microscopic lens on acupuncture and moxibustion to address this pandemic. Noriyuki Tsukamoto hopes this process will edge us ever closer to “explaining the concept of qi through scientific methods,” which he sees as “indispensable to the advancement of our field.” In a similar vein, Merlin Young’s Moxafrica group is announcing a pilot project to test and explain moxibustion’s effects on Long COVID.
These are commendable leaps of faith, but they come with a cost. In adding the “scientific method” to our work, we can lose sight of the forest while lost in the trees. Moxafrica from the outset will have to navigate finding enough patients with Long COVID, teaching them how to use moxa, determining effective doses, and analyzing data. Mizutani Sensei wryly suggests “this will not as be simple as treating TB in Uganda.”
Let’s join Moxafrica’s effort. Meanwhile, there is much we and our patients can do right now to strengthen our immunity – to COVID and anything else. In the pages to follow, each of our contributors presents a new take on an aspect of our ancient, nature-based medicine – a medicine that is an integration of everything humans have done for millennia to survive and thrive. Eat well (be wise about foods and supplements), move well (get exercise, do tai chi or yoga), restore well (sleep soundly, meditate, receive treatments). As Mizutani Sensei says, “This is basic, primary, essential.” Yet in the course of this pandemic, it has not generated headlines.
This discussion leads naturally to our theme topic for next issue, “Homework: what our patients can do for themselves, and how they have surprised us with their results.” Pandemic closures have increased the need for practitioners to give patients homework. Some of it has been the careful use of herbs and supplements; has there also been a revival in the use of home moxibustion, self-shiatsu, meridian stretches, non-insertion acupuncture or other tools for a range of health issues? Please share your advice and methods, successes, failures, and funny stories (pre-pandemic is fine too). Perhaps your contributions will result in a compilation that can benefit a wider readership. Email your proposals as soon as possible; the final submission date for articles is January 10, 2022.
Thanks to all of you for your hard work, brilliance, and wisdom.
Best wishes,
Cheryl Coull and Mizutani Junji
November's Table of Contents
Editorial Cheryl Coull and Mizutani Junji 2
Letters to the editor 2
Navigating the Immune System
Regulating Immunity with Acupuncture and Moxibustion Tsukamoto Noriyuki 3
Building Resistance in the Pandemic Era Robert Hayden 5
Life-Nourishing Moxa: Continuity Confers Strength Fukushima Tetsuya 7
Traditional Methods of Strengthening Immunity Kubota Naoki 9
Random Thoughts on Immunity Mizutani Junji 10
IBS and the Brain-Gut Axis Menjo Yuki 12
Safeguarding the Immune System Thomas Duckworth 13
Supporting the Immune System Pamela E Ferguson 14
Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis Martin Hermann 15
Sjogren’s Syndrome and Sotai Komatsu Hiroaki 18
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Study Faruk Şahin 20
Spring Allergies: Wind-warm Pathogen Yamada F Tomoko 21
Ancient Therapy with a New Tool: The N-kyu Moxa Pen Nakamura Tatsuzo 22
Postherpetic Neuralgia Treatment with Electronic Moxibustion Fujikawa Naotaka 24
Long COVID and the Hundred-Day Moxa Challenge Merlin Young 25
Long Covid Treatment Strategies Yamaoka Denichiro 28
A European Delta Variant Travelogue Bob Quinn 30
Methods and Approaches
Treatment for the Heart: Takahiro-style Technique Funamizu Takahiro 32
Acupuncture & Moxibustion: Sunlight Through the Trees – Part 4 Shudo Denmei 34
PNST Pin-Point Treatment – Part 6 Treatment of Lumbar Stenosis Nagata Hiroshi 36
Introduction to Shakuju Therapy – Part 19 Incipient Diseases Takahashi Daiki 38
The Legacy of Mika Takano – A Posthumous Review of Her Work Oran Kivity 39
An Exploration of the Naso Area Amichay Saller-Fischbach 42
New NAJOM Members 45
Getting to Know Traditional Japanese Medicine
History of Acupuncture in Japan – Part 4 The Early Edo Period Kahata Satoko 46
The Roots of Shiatsu: Shiatsu-ho and Tamai Tenpeki – Part 5 Stephen Brown 48
Bulletin Board 49
Immunity is Our Priority
At this point in what has become an interminable pandemic, what is going on in our NAJOM community? As reflected in the overwhelming response to this issue’s theme, and 17 articles on the subject, we are thinking a lot about immunity. Inching away from social distancing, border closures and lockdowns in the hope of re-connecting with our fellow humans, we are becoming more cognisant of the subtler, more potent protective measures at work inside our own bodies.
Immunity is everything, a function inseparable from life itself. As Mizutani Junji emphasizes, “The development of our immune system coincided with the onset of human evolution some five million years ago in order to protect us from the surrounding environment (Nature).”
The view that we are inseparable from the processes of nature is the basis of eastern medicine. Even the little things that microbiologists look at are a part of nature. Western medicine’s focus on the very micro aspects of the cosmos, from cells to germs and genes, has given us such protections as mRNA vaccines. And, as we see in this issue, venturesome NAJOM contributors, trained in eastern medicine, are putting a microscopic lens on acupuncture and moxibustion to address this pandemic. Noriyuki Tsukamoto hopes this process will edge us ever closer to “explaining the concept of qi through scientific methods,” which he sees as “indispensable to the advancement of our field.” In a similar vein, Merlin Young’s Moxafrica group is announcing a pilot project to test and explain moxibustion’s effects on Long COVID.
These are commendable leaps of faith, but they come with a cost. In adding the “scientific method” to our work, we can lose sight of the forest while lost in the trees. Moxafrica from the outset will have to navigate finding enough patients with Long COVID, teaching them how to use moxa, determining effective doses, and analyzing data. Mizutani Sensei wryly suggests “this will not as be simple as treating TB in Uganda.”
Let’s join Moxafrica’s effort. Meanwhile, there is much we and our patients can do right now to strengthen our immunity – to COVID and anything else. In the pages to follow, each of our contributors presents a new take on an aspect of our ancient, nature-based medicine – a medicine that is an integration of everything humans have done for millennia to survive and thrive. Eat well (be wise about foods and supplements), move well (get exercise, do tai chi or yoga), restore well (sleep soundly, meditate, receive treatments). As Mizutani Sensei says, “This is basic, primary, essential.” Yet in the course of this pandemic, it has not generated headlines.
This discussion leads naturally to our theme topic for next issue, “Homework: what our patients can do for themselves, and how they have surprised us with their results.” Pandemic closures have increased the need for practitioners to give patients homework. Some of it has been the careful use of herbs and supplements; has there also been a revival in the use of home moxibustion, self-shiatsu, meridian stretches, non-insertion acupuncture or other tools for a range of health issues? Please share your advice and methods, successes, failures, and funny stories (pre-pandemic is fine too). Perhaps your contributions will result in a compilation that can benefit a wider readership. Email your proposals as soon as possible; the final submission date for articles is January 10, 2022.
Thanks to all of you for your hard work, brilliance, and wisdom.
Best wishes,
Cheryl Coull and Mizutani Junji
November's Table of Contents
Editorial Cheryl Coull and Mizutani Junji 2
Letters to the editor 2
Navigating the Immune System
Regulating Immunity with Acupuncture and Moxibustion Tsukamoto Noriyuki 3
Building Resistance in the Pandemic Era Robert Hayden 5
Life-Nourishing Moxa: Continuity Confers Strength Fukushima Tetsuya 7
Traditional Methods of Strengthening Immunity Kubota Naoki 9
Random Thoughts on Immunity Mizutani Junji 10
IBS and the Brain-Gut Axis Menjo Yuki 12
Safeguarding the Immune System Thomas Duckworth 13
Supporting the Immune System Pamela E Ferguson 14
Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis Martin Hermann 15
Sjogren’s Syndrome and Sotai Komatsu Hiroaki 18
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Study Faruk Şahin 20
Spring Allergies: Wind-warm Pathogen Yamada F Tomoko 21
Ancient Therapy with a New Tool: The N-kyu Moxa Pen Nakamura Tatsuzo 22
Postherpetic Neuralgia Treatment with Electronic Moxibustion Fujikawa Naotaka 24
Long COVID and the Hundred-Day Moxa Challenge Merlin Young 25
Long Covid Treatment Strategies Yamaoka Denichiro 28
A European Delta Variant Travelogue Bob Quinn 30
Methods and Approaches
Treatment for the Heart: Takahiro-style Technique Funamizu Takahiro 32
Acupuncture & Moxibustion: Sunlight Through the Trees – Part 4 Shudo Denmei 34
PNST Pin-Point Treatment – Part 6 Treatment of Lumbar Stenosis Nagata Hiroshi 36
Introduction to Shakuju Therapy – Part 19 Incipient Diseases Takahashi Daiki 38
The Legacy of Mika Takano – A Posthumous Review of Her Work Oran Kivity 39
An Exploration of the Naso Area Amichay Saller-Fischbach 42
New NAJOM Members 45
Getting to Know Traditional Japanese Medicine
History of Acupuncture in Japan – Part 4 The Early Edo Period Kahata Satoko 46
The Roots of Shiatsu: Shiatsu-ho and Tamai Tenpeki – Part 5 Stephen Brown 48
Bulletin Board 49
Information on COVID 19
Below are the official communications from the World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO)
| guidelines_on_acupuncture_and_moxibustion_intervention_for_covid-19__second_edition_.pdf |
| recommandations_sur_lutilisation_de_lacupuncture_et_de_la_moxibustion_dans_le_traitement_du_covid-19.pdf |
| pautas_sobre_el_uso_de_acupuntura_y_moxibustión_para_tratar_el_covid-19.pdf |
| 新型冠状病毒肺炎诊疗方案试行第七版中医方案部分diagnosis_and_treatment_protocol_for_covid-19_chapter_of_tcm_.pdf |
| 新型冠状病毒肺炎针灸干预的指导意见（第二版）.pdf |
NAJOM’s Global Community Working Together
Here are some of the responses NAJOM members have sent in on dealing with the Coronavirus.
Here are some of the responses NAJOM members have sent in on dealing with the Coronavirus.
| Member_responses_handling_the_coronavirus.docx |
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