Felix Mann
Felix Mann was a prominent British acupuncturist born on April 10, 1931, in Frankfurt, Germany, and he passed away on October 2, 2014, in Shropshire, England. He is best known for his critical examination of traditional acupuncture concepts, particularly the existence of acupuncture points and meridians. Mann advocated for a revised understanding of acupuncture, coining the term "scientific acupuncture," which reflects modern medical insights. His influential book, *Reinventing Acupuncture: A New Concept of Ancient Medicine* (1992), emphasizes the need to adapt acupuncture practices based on contemporary scientific knowledge. After extensive study of traditional techniques, Mann developed innovative approaches such as micro-acupuncture, which involves the quick insertion and withdrawal of a single needle, and later introduced periosteal acupuncture, where needles are placed near the bone. He also played a significant role in the establishment of professional societies focused on acupuncture, including the Medical Acupuncture Society and the British Medical Acupuncture Society. Mann authored several key texts on acupuncture, contributing significantly to the field's evolution. His work, especially in periosteal acupuncture, continues to influence acupuncture practices today, particularly for musculoskeletal issues.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Felix Mann
- Born: April 10, 1931; Frankfurt, Germany
- Died: October 2, 2014; Shropshire, England
Overview
Felix Mann, a British acupuncturist especially noted for his written contributions to the study of acupuncture, was critical of the idea of the existence of acupuncture points and meridians, concepts associated with traditional acupuncture. In contrast, Mann came to develop what is called scientific acupuncture, which is grounded in quite different principles.
In his book Reinventing Acupuncture: A New Concept of Ancient Medicine (1992), Mann argued that traditional acupuncture practices must be updated to reflect modern medical advances. Mann originally studied the traditional acupuncture system under several different teachers. He even studied Chinese language and writing to read traditional texts that had not been translated into English or other languages. Upon completing many years of study of traditional acupuncture approaches, and after reportedly directly observing patients gain little benefit from such methods, he concluded that the traditional methods of acupuncture involving placement of needles into particular points of the body were ineffective.
Mann introduced new ideas into the field of acupuncture, including the idea that certain persons are “strong reactors”; that is, they are particularly sensitive to the effects of the treatment. In addition, he is known for using a novel technique termed “micro-acupuncture,” which involves the insertion of a single needle into one side of a person’s body. After only a few seconds, the needle is withdrawn without excessive movement or stimulation. It is estimated that Mann used this particular technique in most of his patients.
Mann was the founder and president of the Medical Acupuncture Society (1959 to 1980), was the first president of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (1980), and published several books on acupuncture, including The Treatment of Disease by Acupuncture (1963), Atlas of Acupuncture (1966), and the first English-language textbook in the field, Acupuncture: The Ancient Chinese Art of Healing (1962). Other books of note included Textbook of Acupuncture (1987), Scientific Aspects of Acupuncture (1977), and Acupuncture: Cure of Many Diseases (1971). Of note, some of his early publications were based on traditional acupuncture beliefs, as they were written before he changed his opinions of the field. He lectured on acupuncture in over a dozen countries and taught physicians from about forty-five countries. He won a German Pain Prize in 1995. In his later years, Mann invented a new technique he believed to be the most effective: periosteal acupuncture. This technique involves inserting needs down to the periosteum, almost to the patient’s bone.
Felix Mann’s legacy in the world of complementary and alternative medicine lies in his pioneering of scientific acupuncture, his founding of key societies related to acupuncture, the influential texts he authored, and his introduction of the periosteal acupuncture technique. Many acupuncture practitioners commonly use periosteal acupuncture technique in the twenty-first century, especially for conditions involving musculoskeletal pain and inflammation.
Bibliography
Baldry, P. "The Integration of Acupuncture Within Medicine in the UK: The British Medical Acupuncture Society’s Twenty-Fifth Anniversary." Acupuncture in Medicine, vol. 23, no. 1, 2005, pp. 2-12.
Hortz, Brian. "Dry Needling for Neck Pain." Structure & Function Education, 18 Apr. 2022, structureandfunction.net/dry-needling-for-neck-pain. Accessed 8 Sept. 2024.
MacDonald, Alexander. "Obituary: Dr Felix Mann." Acupuncture in Medicine, vol. 32, no. 6, 2014, pp. 512-513. ProQuest, doi:0001833372. Accessed 28 Aug. 2023.
Mann, Felix. Reinventing Acupuncture: A New Concept of Ancient Medicine. 2d ed., Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000.
Scientific Aspects of Acupuncture. 2d ed., Maryland Heights, Mo.: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1983.