On October 17, the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 opened at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Under the theme "Technology Empowerment and Integrated Development: Advancing Traditional Medicine for All," the conference brought together delegates from 97 countries and regions to discuss the inheritance, innovation and integrated development of traditional medicine, and to promote exchanges, mutual learning and cooperation in traditional medicine among countries worldwide.

On October 18, the Innovation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Non-Pharmaceutical Therapies Forum was successfully held at the China National Convention Center Phase II. The forum was led by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) and jointly organized by the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; the National Medical Center (First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine); Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion; and Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Closely aligned with the conference theme, the forum featured keynote speeches, three thematic sessions and an outcomes release session. Nearly 40 experts from more than 10 countries and regions, including China, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Vietnam, Brazil, Romania, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Iran, were invited to deliver presentations and participate in academic exchanges. The forum attracted more than 300 participants, including experts, scholars, clinicians and students from China and abroad.

The forum was dedicated to expanding the clinical applications of non-pharmaceutical therapies in traditional medicine, strengthening their evidence base, building consensus within the field and promoting international collaboration. It aimed to establish an interdisciplinary platform for international academic exchange and cooperation, and to advance the high-quality development of non-pharmaceutical therapies in traditional medicine.

Keynote Speeches Highlight Cutting-Edge Research Achievements and the Shift of Acupuncture Medicine from Experience-Driven to Evidence-Based Practice

During the keynote session, Liu Baoyan, President of WFAS and Academic Committee Member of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, reviewed the latest progress in the inclusion of acupuncture in international modern medical clinical practice guidelines, highlighting significant achievements in evidence-based acupuncture research and the growing integration of acupuncture into mainstream medical systems worldwide. Ma Qiufu, Chair Professor of Neurobiology at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, shared the latest advances in acupuncture-induced autonomic reflexes for the prevention of postoperative pain. His team published a paper in Nature in 2021 on the vagal-adrenal anti-inflammatory pathway activated by electroacupuncture. The latest findings mark a further step into the deeper exploration of acupuncture mechanisms. Wang Wei, Professor and Chief Physician at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, together with co-presenter Lu Zhi, Assistant Professor and Special Researcher at Tsinghua University, presented research achievements in high-resolution in vivo mesoscopic imaging technology and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of electroacupuncture. The related study, published in the international academic journal Nature Biotechnology in 2026, used a self-developed high-resolution in vivo mesoscopic imaging system to dynamically observe neutrophil clustering in the spleens of mice and changes following electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST36), providing new in vivo visual evidence for research into the anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture. Hedwig Luxenburger, Past President and current Vice President of the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART), and Vice President of the Global Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine, introduced the evidence base and advances in clinical applications of acupuncture and integrative medicine in Germany, highlighting the prospects for integrating acupuncture into European medical systems.

Liu Baoyan delivers the keynote speech "Acupuncture in International Modern Medical Clinical Practice Guidelines."

Ma Qiufu delivers the keynote speech "Electroacupuncture Modulates Postoperative Pain via Sympathetic Reflexes."

Wang Wei delivers the keynote speech "Innovation in High-Resolution In Vivo Mesoscopic Imaging Technology and Study on the Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism of Electroacupuncture," with Lu Zhi as co-presenter.

Hedwig Luxenburger delivers the keynote speech "Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine in Germany – State of the Art, Evidence and Perspectives."

Yang Jinsheng, Secretary-General of WFAS, serves as moderators of the keynote speeches.

Dong Hongguang, Vice President of WFAS, serves as moderators of the keynote speeches.

Thematic Sessions Highlight Interdisciplinary Integration and New Advances in the Digital, Intelligent and International Development of Traditional Medicine

During the thematic sessions, experts and scholars from China and abroad focused on three major themes, crossing disciplinary boundaries and bringing together a wide range of traditional medical therapies, including acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi, music therapy, hydrotherapy, Ayurveda, Thai massage, Persian traditional medicine and European therapeutic fasting.

Theme I focused on the expansion of clinical indications and the development of evaluation methods, covering precision acupuncture, clinical acupuncture research, evidence chain development, efficacy in chronic disease management, electroacupuncture analgesia, acupoint stimulation for mental disorders, and nasal acupuncture practices in Japan.

Jun J. Mao, Director of the Integrative Medicine Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and member of the American Acupuncture Research Society, delivers a presentation entitled "Research and Innovation of Precision Acupuncture under the Patient-Centered Concept."

Jing Xianghong, Director and Researcher at the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, delivers a presentation entitled "Historical Evolution of Clinical Advantages of Acupuncture and Thoughts on Its Modern Development."

Tran Van Thanh, Lifetime President of the Vietnam Acupuncture Association and Director of the Central Acupuncture Hospital of Vietnam, delivers a presentation entitled "A Review of the Role of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Selected Chronic Diseases in Vietnam and Asia."

Xu Nenggui, Professor at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and Member of the Division Committee of the Science and Technology Commission of the Ministry of Education, delivers a presentation entitled "Construction of the Integrative Evidence Chain in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture and Moxibustion."

Yuichi Hiiro, Director and Vice-Chief of the International Division of the Japan Society of Traditional Acupuncture and Moxibustion, delivers a presentation entitled "Health Preservation and Conditioning for Post-COVID Sequelae with Illustrative Practices of Nasal Acupuncture."

Fang Jianqiao, Professor at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and Director of the Institute of Acupuncture, delivers a presentation entitled "Electroacupuncture Analgesia and Its Modulation of Pain-Associated Negative Emotions."

Zhang Zhangjin, Director of the School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, delivers a presentation entitled "Acupoint Stimulation Therapy for Mental Disorders: From Evidence-Based to Mechanistic Approaches."

Gao Shuzhong, Professor at Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Ma Qiufu, Chair Professor of Neurobiology at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Zhang Yanjun, Party Secretary of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and Bian Zhaoxiang, Administrative Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, serve as moderators of Theme I.

Theme II focused on the inheritance and innovation of distinctive non-pharmaceutical therapies from China and abroad, bringing together Tuina, thermosensitive moxibustion, Tai Chi, music therapy, Tibetan medicinal bathing, Thai massage, Ayurveda, hydrotherapy, Persian traditional medicine and European therapeutic fasting for academic dialogue and exchange.

Olga Surdu, President of the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy and Vice President of the Global Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine, delivers a presentation entitled "The Five Elements Theory and the Natural Therapeutic Factors: An Integrative Dialogue between Acupuncture and Balneotherapy."

Wang Xiyou, Chief Physician at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, delivers a presentation entitled "Six Qualitative Changes in Tuina: From Tradition, Evidence to Intelligence."

Daniela A. Koppold, Researcher in the Clinical Natural Medicine Research Group at the Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, delivers a presentation entitled "Ancient European Medicine & Therapeutic Fasting Offer Proven, Low-Cost Tools against the Global Epidemic of Diabetes, Obesity & Chronic Disease — Bridging East & West under the WHO 2025–2034 Strategy."

Qin Yi, Professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, delivers a presentation entitled "The Integration of Music Therapy and Traditional Medicine: Practice and Exploration of an Innovative Discipline in Hospitals—A Shanghai Case Study."

Wichai Eungpinichpong, Professor at the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, delivers a presentation entitled "Application and Research Progress of Thai Massage as a Traditional Medical Therapy."

Pathirage Kamal Perera, Founding Dean of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Professor of Ayurveda, delivers a presentation entitled "Integrative Non-Pharmacological Approaches in Ayurveda Medicine and Research."

Chen Rixin, Chief Professor and Chief Physician of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, delivers a presentation entitled "From Acupoint Sensitization to Four-Sensitivity Operation: The Secret to Improving the Efficacy of Thermosensitive Moxibustion."

Ehsan Doostmohammadi, Iranian Sinologist and Professor at the Center for Iranian Studies, Southwest University, delivers a presentation entitled "The Spread and Evolution of Acupuncture in Iran and the Exploration of Its Integration with Non-Pharmacological Therapies in Persian Traditional Medicine."

Bian Liunian, Artistic Director and Musician of China Oriental Performing Arts Group, delivers a presentation entitled "'Music Medicine': A Revolution in Non-Pharmacological Healthcare."

Xiu Ming Fai Parco, Head of the Division of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, delivers a presentation entitled "Non-pharmaceutical Intervention of Tai Chi for Body and Mind: Long-term Evidence-Based Efficacy and Public Health Application of Chronic Insomnia in Middle-aged and Elderly People."

Mima, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Xizang University of Tibetan Medicine, delivers a presentation entitled "The Origin, Development, and Innovation of Tibetan Medical Bath Therapy."

Yu Xiaochun, President of the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion; Mariana Cabral Schveitzer, Former President of the Brazilian Integrative Health Academic Association and Vice President of the Global Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine; Guo Yi, Professor at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and Amir Hooman Kazemi, Vice President of WFAS, serve as moderators of Theme II.

Theme III focused on digitalization and mechanistic innovation, covering large models for digital-intelligent acupuncture, AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment, thermosensitive moxibustion Qi-sensing robots, and AI-empowered precision acupuncture.

Shao Jieru, Deputy Director of the Digital-Intelligent Acupuncture Professional Committee of the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, delivers a presentation entitled "Digital and Intelligent Acupuncture and Non-Pharmacological Therapies: A New Paradigm for Data-Driven Innovation and Inclusive Development of Traditional Medicine — From Computable Human Body, Intelligent Evaluation to Professional Large Models."

Zhang Dezheng, Professor at the School of Computer and Communication Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, delivers a presentation entitled "AI-Empowered Acupuncture-Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment."

Chen Rixin, Chief Professor and Chief Physician of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, delivers a presentation entitled "Thermosensitive Moxibustion Qi-sensing Robot: From Theoretical Innovation to Clinical Transformation and Grassroots Promotion."

Liu Yanzhu, Founder, Chairman and Chief Expert of ACA Acupuncture & Wellness Center, USA, and Distinguished Professor at Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, delivers a presentation entitled "From Experience-Based Acupuncture to Precision Acupuncture: Theory, Technology, and Practice of AI-Empowered Acupuncture Diagnosis and Treatment."

During the exchange and discussion session, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the digitalization of clinical acupuncture experience, the development of data and knowledge systems, AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment, and the clinical application of intelligent technologies. They jointly explored pathways for digital and intelligent technologies to empower the inheritance, innovation and clinical practice of acupuncture. Zhao Hong, Executive President of Shenzhen Luohu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Director of the Standardization Working Committee of WFAS, moderated the discussion. Participants included Shao Jieru, Deputy Director of the Digital-Intelligent Acupuncture Professional Committee of the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion; Zhang Dezheng, Professor at the School of Computer and Communication Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing; Chen Rixin, Chief Professor at Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine; Liu Yanzhu, Founder of ACA Acupuncture & Wellness Center, USA; and Xu Jun, Vice Secretary-General of the Abdominal Acupuncture Inheritance Committee of WFAS.

Yang Longhui, Vice President of WFAS, serves as the moderator of Theme III.

Forum Outcomes Strengthen the Foundations for Acupuncture Standardization and International Cooperation

During the forum's outcomes release session, WFAS released nine international standards for acupuncture-moxibustion in 2026. Expert representatives from several countries and regions jointly witnessed the release, while a standards interpretation video introduced the relevant content to further promote understanding and application of international acupuncture standards. These newly released standards further improve the international standardization system for acupuncture-moxibustion, providing standardized professional references for clinical diagnosis and treatment, academic research and the promotion of acupuncture techniques worldwide. They are of great significance for improving the quality of acupuncture services, advancing the international development of acupuncture and promoting international health cooperation.

Yang Yuyang, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WFAS and Researcher at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, serves as the moderator of the outcomes release session.

Academic exchanges and Q&A sessions

As one of the parallel forums of the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026, the Innovation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Non-Pharmaceutical Therapies Forum provided a high-level platform for international academic exchange among experts and scholars, further promoting mutual learning and integrated innovation across countries, regions, medical systems and academic disciplines. The forum injected new momentum into evidence-based research, clinical applications, technological innovation and international standardization in acupuncture-moxibustion and non-pharmaceutical therapies. It also helped build broad consensus on the inheritance, innovation and integrated development of traditional medicine, making positive contributions to deepening international exchanges and cooperation, advancing the high-quality development of traditional medicine, promoting traditional medicine for all, and improving the health and well-being of people worldwide.

Glimpses of the forum