The 13th International Congress of Oriental Medicine will be held Oct. 20-23 at the Daegu Exhibition & Convention Center in Daegu, South Korea. Co-sponsored by the International Society of Oriental Medicine (ISOM) and the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine (AKOM), the event will also commemorate the Society's 30th anniversary.
The Congress is considered one of ISOM's most important educational activities. The first Congress was held in Seoul, South Korea in 1976, and has been held in various locations throughout Asia and Europe every two to three years. Its main purposes are to present distinguished research findings on Oriental medicine, and to help raise the status of Oriental medicine worldwide.
Over time, the Congress has made significant contributions to improve the recognition of Oriental medicine. According to the AKOM's Web site, the second Congress, held in Kyongju, South Korea in 1980, was the first academic conference of Oriental medicine to be officially recognized and endorsed by the World Health Organization.
The theme of this year's congress is "Ways to a Better Life in an Aging Society," and will consist of five main themes: regimen and Oriental medicine; constitutional Oriental medicine; cancer and Oriental medicine; hepatitis and Oriental medicine; and paralysis and Oriental medicine. The Congress will also feature exhibitions on herbal medicine, medical equipment, and Korean Oriental medicine. In addition, a "Gala Party" will be held Oct. 22 for attendees and their associates, and various cultural tours of the surrounding area will be available for interested parties.
For more information on the 13th International Congress of Oriental Medicine, visit www.icomworld.org.
One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.
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