Reinventing Acupuncture: A New Concept of Ancient Medicine

An introduction to acupuncture for doctors who want to get a grip on the subject and who do not want to be burdened with instruction in the "laws of acupuncture" (points and meridians). Dr Felix Mann discusses controversial issues such as: do acupuncture points exist?; are there such things as meridians?; the interplay between mind and body; and the concept of large areas responding to stimuli rather than having to use specific acupuncture points for treatment. This new edition features new material in many of the chapters and a greater awareness of the symbiotic relationship between mind and body. There are also new chapters on the ideal frequency of treatment by acupuncture and on where the patient should be needled.

Table of Contents:
From tradition to the twentieth century; Non-existent acupuncture points; Radiation and the non-existent meridians; Strong Reactors; Strong Reactors and drugs; The Inhibited Patient; The liver or upper digestive dysfunction; Psycho-somatic and somato-psychic conditions; Micro-acupuncture; Hyper-micro-acupuncture; Periosteal acupuncture; The ideal frequency of treatment by acupuncture; Where should the patient be needled? Sacro-iliac joint area; Anterior superior iliac spine area; Lumbar spinous processes area; Cervical articular pillar area; Dorsalis pedis/dorsal interosseous area; Medial infragenual area; Gastrocnemius tendon area; Varicose ulcer area; Cardiac areas. Medial arm area. Sternum; Trapezius/occiput area; Mastoid process area; Lambdoid suture area; Painful shoulder; The foot; The hand and wrist; The vertebral column; The chest; The face.

About the Author :
Founder and Past President of the Medical Acupuncture Society (1959-1980);
First President of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (1980);
Holder of the German Pain Prize (Deutscher Schmerzpreis) 1995;

Review :
"This new edition contains two new chapters, including a useful discussion of the best intervals to leave between treatments and when to re treat. The biggest innovation, however, is the description of what Mann calls Hyper Strong Reactors. Mann originally introduced the idea of Strong Reactors (patients who respond unusually strongly to acupuncture and who generally do well), and this is now widely accepted among practitioners of modern acupuncture, but now he has taken the notion further by identifying a subgroup who respond even more strongly. [...] This book remains one of the best textbooks of acupuncture for acupuncturists who follow the modern (non traditional) approach." Anthony Campbell book should be read by every medical acupuncturist, as Mann s observations are clear and actual. [...] It is an addition to the standard teaching of acupuncture, which allows medical practitioners to think clearly for themselves, outside of the strictures of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It can apply to a large cross section of medical practice, but in particular it is pertinent to musculoskeletal medicine, which forms well over 50% of most medical acupuncture clinical workloads. Mann s results are reproducible by other practitioners, ofter to the delight of their patients. A highly recommended text to have for reference with clear diagrams of the areas of radiation described."Journal of the Australian Medical Acupuncture College, January 2001