Welcome to the 10th Interdisciplinary Acupuncture Symposium!
Dear friends and colleagues,
the Scientific Association of Medical Acupuncture in Greece –SAMAG- organizes the 10th Interdisciplinary Acupuncture Symposium online, on Sunday 27th of November 2022.
The Symposium will be online and we hope for the last time!
This year the symposium will be focused on the various “pandemics” of our planet: according to the WHO data leading causes of diseases and disabilities today are chronic diseases which can be reversible up to 90%. More people suffer worldwide from air pollution, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammation and stress disorders than covid-19.
Physicians and researchers will discuss how the new situation affects our body and the methods that would help the people to lead a “healthy” life. The program will contain multiple lectures concerning acupuncture clinical applications and current scientific research on our field.
We will be delighted if you join us in this interesting scientific quest.
Dr. Konstantina Theodoratou MD, MSc, Med. Psych. AABMRC Fellowship,
Secretary General of ICMART
President of SAMAG
Chair of the Symposium
Dear Colleagues Friends Honorable Guests, ..;
It is our pleasure and honour to invite you to participate to IASY 2022 in Athens Greece.
As our recent tormented life in all its aspects and paths with the devastating Conid 19 Pandemic,we need a place to connect and share our experiences now more than ever.
For this reason ,it is our priority to facilitate acquiring expert knowledge, learning, and sharing experiences and discussing the latest breakthrough in the evidence based clinical areas of Traditional Chinese Medicine and especially Acupuncture and related techniques.
Epidemic and infectious diseases have been on the earth far well before human beings. It is known that early humans and their microscopic counterparts have been battling as long as they have coexisted. In medical science, infectious diseases, especially epidemic diseases, have always been prevalent and ubiquitous. It is not an exaggeration to say that much of the medical knowledge scientists and doctors have garnered through history has come through the careful analysis of epidemic events. Ancient TCM calls epidemics Wen Bing (温 病 Warmth induced disorder). When epidemics or pandemic happens, they’re called Wen Yi (瘟 疫 Plague).
The struggle between witchcraft and medicine reached its peak during this time. The writings of the legendary TCM doctor Bian Que (407-310BCE) were recorded around this period and this famous doctor refused to treat any patient who believed in witchcraft. Bian Que is largely considered to be China’s first physician. Many myths and stories are told about his life and practices. The publishing of the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic (黄 帝 内 经) marked a significant historical event in TCM history, rooting their medical system in empirical thought and practice, while leaving the magic behind.
The Inner Classic identified external factors such as wind, cold, heat, and dampness as mechanisms of epidemic diseases. Discussions between the Yellow Emperor and his chief physician Qi Bo also focused on concepts of immunity and prevention. Moreover, they discussed how to isolate sick patients to prevent the spread of disease. Much of their discourse remains relevant to the problems we currently face in the handling of modern epidemic diseases.
Some patients, especially those with severe symptoms, experience susceptibility to a range of diseases and substantial organ dysfunction after recovery. Although COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, recent studies have shown that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) may affect the tissues and organs involved in regulating the metabolic status including pancreas, adipose tissue, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.
Studies have also indicated the increased risk of severe COVID-19 in patients with diabetes. On the other hand, COVID-19 may predispose patients to diabetes, as the most common metabolic disease.
IASY 2022 aspiring to bring together the ancient wisdom and craftsmanship with modern and up to date knowledge and therapeutic techniques of evidenced based acupuncture and its contribution in treating the immediate and longterm effects of the diseases caused by infectious pandemics and also the increased risk of complications in patients already with the metabolic syndrome which is characterized as a global epidemic in recent years .
Dr. M. Tarabe, MD, MSc, PhD, FEBOPRAS
Vice President of Samag
Co-chair of the Symposium