More than a thousand practitioners of acupuncture, the ancient art of healing by the insertion of needles, met in Paris on Monday (18 June) for the sixth world congress on acupuncture. the congress continues for a week and for the first time a delegation from China, the birthplace of the art, attended. Two weeks earlier, the Chinese had invited western doctors to their national acupuncture symposium in Peking.

SYNOPSIS: Acupuncture specialists from all parts of the world met at the conference to exchange ideas, hear technical papers and form working committees. The ancient oriental art has a following that grows daily throughout the world.

Based on the estimation of specific points of the body, by needles turned by hand or by heat, the techniques of acupuncture are being developed by the application of electricity and lasers.

Scientists and doctors have been investigating why acupuncture seems to provide a cure of relief for some ailments which defy conventional medical practice.

Acupuncture is increasingly used for treating body pains and inflammation. Many medical doctors have turned exclusively to treatment by acupuncture. Western doctors, trained in acupuncture use their needles at one hundred and eighty places on the body. There are eighty more mentioned in the ancient Chinese texts.

There is little if any pain for the patient as the needles go in. This girl gains relief for a knee problem.

Acupuncture also has psychological value. For smokers, needles placed in either the nose or ears are claimed to completely negate the desire for cigarettes.

This French acupuncturist explains to congress delegates his method of treatment for a young girl suffering from pains in the back. He says that her kidneys and bladder are not infected but contain toxin which causes the pain and which will be relieved by the acupuncture.