ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was practised before 1766 BC but the first medical text was the Nei Ching Su Wen (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine), c. 300BC. The Nei Ching detailed the AP system as well as other medical knowledge. Horses were very important and "horse priests" practised their trade from at least 1766 BC. Many texts on veterinary medicine were written in the period 221 BC to 1608 AD.
Texts on human acupuncture (AP) were available since the Nei Ching but the first detailed text on equine AP was Yuan Heng Liao Ma Chi (Treatise on horses), by veterinarians Yuan and Heng in 1608 AD. The practice of human and equine AP almost certainly predates the publication of those texts.
Human AP was introduced to Europe by Jesuits returning from Macao and Peking in the late 1500's and early 1600's. Harvieu, a Jesuit, translated the first work on AP into a European language (French). The practice of AP in Europe fell into disrepute, probably because of poor training and consequent poor results.
Soulie de Morant, a diplomat returning from Shanghai in 1927, translated more modern Chinese works into French (Precis de la vraie acupuncture, 1934). This work was the foundation of the French AP school and spread to Germany and Austria.
European pioneers of modern vet AP in the 1950's and 60's included Kothbauer (Austria), Milin (France) and the late Westermayer (Germany). American pioneers, coming to the field a little later than the Europeans, included Altman, Bressler, Cain, Jaggar, Klide and the late Grady Young.
International publicity on AP, following visits of western professionals to China in 1971 - 1972, was a factor in the founding of the UCLA Vet AP Research Project in 1973, the National Association of Vet AP (NAVA) in California and the International Vet AP Society (IVAS) in 1974. IVAS, now the biggest organisation for vet AP outside the East, has members or informal contacts in 38 countries. Its aims include working for the full integration of AP into vet science and the standardisation of training internationally. To this end, IVAS, where possible, provides intensive courses in countries which require this.
Although human and vet AP has gained much ground in the last 14 years, its status is insecure in many countries. There are confidence tricksters and Diploma sellers hidden among genuine AP practitioners. Many academics feel threatened by the esoteric language and concepts of the purist AP schools and by the apparent difficulty in learning it. Surgeons feel threatened by claims that AP can treat many conditions which they regard as needing surgery. The drug industry is not enthusiastic about the wide-scale replacement of drug therapy by AP. (They are justified in some respects but veterinary chemotherapeutic drugs are likely to remain the main-stay of western vet medicine for the foreseeable future).
Scarcity of controlled experimentation and clinical trials, together with inflated or biassed claims by uncritical practitioners fuel the fears and prejudices of its sceptics and its enemies.
IVAS and National groups have much work to do before AP is fully integrated into human and vet medicine. Thorough documentation of the successes, relapse rates and failures of AP are needed. AP must be made as simple as possible. To gain scientific acceptance, all unnecessary AP theory and practice and the more lunatic (advanced ?) fringes of AP must be rejected or consigned to "special interest groups".
INTRODUCTION
Vet AP is gaining ground internationally. Organised National groups exist in many countries now. Nuclei of practitioners, at present unorganised, exist in many others. The Antwerp Congress stimulated great enthusiasm and played a definite role in spreading interest to Scandinavia. The full IVAS Course was held with about 35 participants in Oslo. A course on small- animal AP has been held in Denmark and one on horses is planned for October 1988. (Both of these resulted from Antwerp). The Postgraduate Veterinary Committee of Sydney University has invited Drs. Luc Janssens and Phil Rogers to give a 5-day intensive Course in 1991.
Theses or Dissertations on AP have been accepted by Vet Schools in Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany and Switzerland. Vet Schools in Mexico, U.S.A., Germany, are beginning to take AP much more seriously than, say, five years ago. National or State Vet Associations, for instance in Taiwan, Japan, Austria, Finland, Germany and Belgium have accepted AP as a valid modality and the American Vet Med Association may has accepted it as valid in 1988.
On the surface, the future of vet AP seems assured. But is this so ? We must be very careful. Our baby is very fragile and there are wolves outside the nursery, ready to savage it to death.
A brief history of human and vet AP will be given before discussing its status and its possible future. Dr. Martin Parkinson, Guildford, U.K. sent me much material on the history and texts available in 1974 - 1977. More details were taken from Klide & Kung (1977) and Janssens (1987), to whose reviews readers are referred.
1. BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMAN AP
500-300 BC : Huang Ti Nei Ching (Canon of Internal Medicine) had two parts (Su Wen and Ling Shu). They outlined TCM theory (YIN/YANG, Five Elements, the meridians, Qi etc).
265 AD : Chen Chiu Chia Yi Ching (Classic of AP and moxibustion)
550 AD : monk Zhi Cong brought Ming Tang Tu (Manual of channels and AP points) and Chen Chiu Chia Yi Ching to Korea and Japan.
1026 AD : Tong Ren Shu Hsueh Chen Chiu Tu Ching (Manual on points for AP and moxibustion on a bronze figure)
1220 AD : Chen Chiu Zi Sheng Ching (Classic of AP and moxibustion)
1341 AD : Shi Si Ching Fa Hui Zi Sheng Ching (Enlargement of the 14 Channels)
1601 AD : Chen Chiu Ta Cheng (Compendium of AP and moxibustion by Yang Jizhou. This has been one of the main sources of information for 400 years).
1575-1675 AD : Human AP was introduced to Europe by Jesuits returning from Macao and Peking. Harvieu, a Jesuit, translated the first work on AP into a European language (French, 1671). The practice of AP fell into disrepute in Europe, probably because of poor training and consequent poor results.
1665 AD : Japanese Okamoto Ippo published on the Meridians
1676 AD : Hermann Busschof published "Moxibustion" (Chiu) in English (London)
1683 AD : Willem Ten Rhyne published Dissertatio de Arthride : mantissa schematica: de Acupunctura (in Latin), London
1693 AD : Japanese Kiosho Kotsuju published on the Meridians
1863 AD : Pierre Dabry published Le Medicine chez les Chinois (Plon, Paris). It included a section on Vet AP
1927 AD : Soulie de Morant, a diplomat, returned from Shanghai. He translated more modern Chinese works into French (Precis de la vraie acupuncture, 1934). This work founded the French AP school. Spread to Germany and Austria.
2. BRIEF HISTORY OF VETERINARY AP
1766-1122BC : The "Horse Priests" responsible for treating army horses
1122- 222BC : Chao Fu, the first DVM
403- 221BC : Nei Ching and Nan Ching probably used by "Horse Priests"
221BC- 220AD : Nei Ching and Nan Ching probably used by horse-doctors
221BC- 220AD: Shen Nung Pen Ts'ao Ching (Herbal medicine) probably used by horse-doctors
221BC- 220AD: A few texts on animal diseases were published
220- 907AD : Chia I Ching and Ch'ien Ching Fang probably used by vets
220- 907AD :: Many vet texts were published
220- 907AD :: Formal vet education
960-1368AD : Formal storage of vet medicines
960-1368AD :: New vet texts and re-writes of older ones
1368-1644AD : Yuan Heng Liao Ma Chi (Horse treatise) - the first text in detail on horse AP by vets Yuan and Heng, preface by Ting Ping 1608
1368-1644AD :: Ma Shu (Book of Horses)
1368-1644AD :: Lei Fang Ma Ching (Prescriptions for Horses)
1368-1644AD :: Niu Shu (Book of Cattle)
1644-1912AD : Texts on horses, cattle, camels, pigs, nutrition and ploughing
1863AD : Pierre Dabry published Le Medicine chez les Chinois (Plon, Paris). It included a section on Vet AP
1912-1958AD : 1917 Shanghai School of Vet Med (private)
1912-1958AD :: no formal vet training at national level but various western style schools existed
1912-1958AD :: 1947 Vet Med Depts. in Agricultural schools
1912-1958AD :: 1955 new translations of horse and cattle classics in modern vet terminology
1912-1958AD :: 1956 2 new Chinese vet journals
1912-1958AD :: 1958 Committee to review Chinese, Japanese and Korean vet classics. Of > 70 known, only 16 survived
1958-1972AD : AP analgesia in man (1969 in animals)
1958-1972AD :: clinical and experimental studies on AP and its mechanisms
1958-1972AD :: many new books on vet med
1972 : Shou I Shou Chai (Handbook of Vet Med) combines Chinese and western methods
1950's and 60's: Vet AP pioneers included Kothbauer (Austria), Milin (France) and the late Westermayer (Germany). American pioneers included Altman, Bressler, Cain, Jaggar, Klide and the late Grady Young.
1971-1972 : western professionals report on visits to China
1973 : founding of the UCLA Vet AP Research Project
1974 : National Association of Vet AP (NAVA) in California
1974 : International Vet AP Society (IVAS). IVAS has members or informal contacts in 38 countries. IVAS courses.
1977 : First translation of traditional large animal vet AP texts in English (Klide and Kung 1977).
1980 : Finland accepts AP as valid medical and vet modality
1986 : New South Wales Vet Board accepts AP
1987 : IVAS Congress in Antwerp; great response
1987-1988 : Austria, Germany accept vet AP as valid therapy.
1988 : South Africa and A.V.M.A. (America) recognise vet AP.
1988 : IVAS Training Course in Oslo
1990 : IVAS Training Course in Brussels. IVAS Congress in Noordwyk (Netherlands)
1991 : 5-day intensive postgraduate training course in Sydney Vet School
1992 : Vet AP Course in the Copenhagen Vet School
1993 : IVAS Congress, Tromso, Norway. IVAS Course, Skara, Sweden
1994 : IVAS Course planned for Belgium.
Following the re-introduction of AP to France by Soulie de Morant in 1927, a few vets in France, Germany and Austria began to use it in the 30's and 40's but little or nothing was published of their results.
In 1954, the first western thesis on vet AP was published by Benard (Vet School, Alfort, Paris).
In the late '50s and early '60s Kothbauer (Austria) used classic provocation experiments to locate the reflex points for the main internal organs in cattle. He injected irritants (Lugol's iodine solution) into specific organs of cattle destined for slaughter and located the reflex points using an electrical point detector. He confirmed the therapeutic effect of Kothbauer's Points in clinical practice. Later, he became the first vet in Europe to use AP analgesia for surgery in cattle (teat surgery and caesarian section). He has published many articles and a textbook, mainly on bovine AP. His contribution to AP was recognised by his election to the presidency of IVAS 1987-1988. Kothbauer, Kuussaari and Westermayer used AP successfully for the reposition of prolapsed uterus, dystocia and infertility in cows.
Milin (Paris) used AP in small animals since the '50s. He used an electrical point detector on dogs to locate the points, from which he drew up AP charts. His work confirmed that the transposition method could be used in dogs. From 1963-, he published his results, mainly in rhematological, orthopaedic and gynaecological disorders. His contribution was recognised by his election to the presidency of the French Vet AP Assoc. (l'AVAF) for many years.
European and American scientists and professionals visited China in 1971 - 1972. The ensuing international publicity given to Chinese science, including AP, fired the imagination of western clinicians and researchers. Pioneers like Milin (Paris), Kothbauer (Austria) and Westermayer (Germany), who had been using AP in their practices for 10 - 17 years before that time, must have felt vindicated at last.
Following correspondence with these pioneers, Rogers & Ottaway (1974) and Rogers, White and Ottaway (1977) documented the clinical claims in the accessible literature. Since then, many clinicians and researchers have published reviews, experimental data and clinical articles in conventional vet publications as well as in specialist AP journals and newsletters.
In the 1970's and 1980's, clinicians, postgraduate students and staff members at some European and American universities began to publish results of basic and clinical studies on AP in animals. Some who have made significant contributions are :
Luc Janssens (Antwerp)
Pragmatic, scientific approach to AP. Studies on point locations, AP analgesia, rheumatology, disc disease, trigger points, arthrosis, resuscitation in dogs
Yann Ching Hwang (Tuskeegee, Alabama)
Studies on piglet diarrhoea; co-editor of FAO Vet AP textbook with Yu Chuan (1990)
Alan Klide (Philadelphia)
First translation of traditional vet AP texts in English. Studies on point injection and laser on backpain in horses (Martin and Klide 1987).
Jen Hsou Lin (Taipei)
Studies on anoestrus, infertility in gilts/sows and diarrhoea in piglets
Roland Muxeneder (Vienna)
Clinical effects of laser on wound healing, eczema and oedema in horses
T.D. Olesen (Los Angeles)
Confirmation of the diagnostic value of earpoints in humans
Bruce Pomeranz (Toronto)
Published the first experimental evidence (January 1977) that endorphins/enkephalins are involved in AP analgesia. Rogers, from literature reviews, predicted that in December 1976
M. Schupbach (Zurich)
Infrared thermography to detect points for the uterus in pigs and confirmation of the effects of stimulating the points
Jan Still (Brno, Czechoslovakia; now MEDUNSA, S. Africa)
Brilliant work on detection of earpoints in the dog and on many clinical applications of earpoint and bodypoint AP in small animals
Hector Sumano (Mexico City)
Very good work on AP and electrostimulation on wound and burn healing; infertility in cows; AP analgesia in dogs; non-distemper induced epilepsy in dogs; polyarthritis in parrots.
Erwin Westermayer (Germany; deceased May 1990)
Clinical studies of AP in cattle, especially in relation to metabolic and reproductive disorders. Two textbooks.
Sheila White (Murdoch, West Australia)
Introduced course on alternative medicine to Murdoch Vet school. Preparing anatomical charts of the AP points in horses. Textbook on electro-AP in horses.
Charlotte Frigast (Copenhagen Vet School)
Brilliant work on the importance of the cervical nerves for normal gait in horses.
Details of their work, and that of many other pioneers, are given elsewhere in the Course.
Meanwhile, in the U.S.A., vet AP was pioneered by two main groups, the National Association of Vet AP (NAVA) and the International Vet AP Society (IVAS).
NAVA was founded in California in 1974. It arose from the good clinical results obtained by the UCLA Vet AP Research Project in 1973. Founder members included Shelly Altman, David Bressler, Richard Glassberg, John Ottaviano and Hoddy Warner.
IVAS also was founded in 1974. Its founder members included Marvin Cain, David Jaggar and the late Grady Young. Because of the difficulty of running two vet organisations in a minority speciality, many members of NAVA joined IVAS and NAVA wound down.
IVAS, now the biggest organisation for vet AP outside the East, has members and informal contacts in 38 countries. Its aims include to work for the full integration of AP into vet science and to try to standardise international training. To this end, IVAS, where possible, provides its basic course (or shorter ones if needed) in countries which require this. Only registered vets or vet students in their final years may take the IVAS course. The basic course is 120 hours of concentrated lectures and demonstrations spread over 4-5 weekends in a year. Students are expected to study selected textbooks. At the end of the course, they sit a 3-hour written examination. Candidates who pass and who present 5 detailed case reports are accredited as competent to practice vet AP.