This special edition of Medical Acupuncture centers on acupunture research and clinical practices that impacts on the medical community as the technology advances in many directions. We are very grateful that over a dozen prominent investigators from well-known institutes made this publication possible.
I raise this question: “Has the integration of acupuncture into Western Medicine already begun, or vice versa?” One has the impression that acupuncture research—whether from the East or West—has striking similarities. There is a blending of East and West scientific investigational techniques and reporting. Major medical institutions have embraced the modern attributes of acupuncture research and are exploring its contributions to benefit patients around the globe.
The journal is honored to help disseminate this exciting information. I thank all the authors and roundtable participants who made the commitment to contribute to this special edition despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, I wish to thank Vicki Cohn for her guidance, Dr. Yael Ben-Porat, our Managing Editor, and the Editorial Board for their reviews. Most important, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Libin Jia, who masterfully organized and crafted this special edition.