Felix Mann

Infobox Person
name = Felix Mann


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birth_date = 10 April 1931
birth_place = Frankfurt/Main,Germany
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residence = 15 Devonshire Place, London, W1G 6HF, United Kingdom
nationality = British
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known_for = Pioneering western scientific acupuncture and for being the first doctor to practise acupuncture full time in the UK
education = Malvern College, Christ College, Cambridge and Westminster Hospital
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occupation = Medical Doctor and Acupuncturist
title = Dr
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spouse = Ruth Csorba v. Borsa
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children = Dr. Maria-Ruth Morello (Stepdaughter)
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website = [http://www.felixmann.co.uk www.felixmann.co.uk]
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Dr Felix Mann is a western doctor who evolved a different system of acupuncture over a period of forty years, known as Scientific Acupuncture. His methods are described in a number of his publications on the subject, notably [http://www.felixmann.co.uk/Reinventing_Acupunture.pdf Reinventing Acupuncture] . He was the Founder President of The Medical Acupuncture Society and Holder of The German Pain Prize 1995.

Background

Dr Felix Mann was born in Germany but moved to England at the age of three, and was brought up bi-lingually.

After qualifying at Cambridge University and Westminster Hospital, he first studied acupuncture in 1958 in the traditional Chinese manner. A scientific approach to acupuncture did not exist at that time, nor many text books in any European language. Dr. Mann therefore spent ten years learning to read medical Chinese, including a study period in China, in order to be able to read both ancient and modern text books in their original language. He was thus able to introduce acupuncture to the English medical world.

However, on the basis of his clinical observations, he soon discovered that the traditional theoretical foundation of acupuncture was fundamentally incorrect - somewhat like the 'flat earth' theory of the Middle Ages - good enough for building houses but not for navigation. In reality, acupuncture points and meridians do not exist; yin and yang, the five elements and the mathematically intricate laws of acupuncture are a philosophical concept, mostly irrelevant, susceptible to different explanation, or simply wrong.

Felix Mann evolved a different system of acupuncture over the past thirty to forty years, and much of what he teaches in Scientific Acupuncture conforms to neurophysiological concepts.

Felix Mann was the Founder President of The Medical Acupuncture Society 1959-1980 and President of The British Medical Acupuncture Society 1980; Holder of The German Pain Prize 1995.

cientific Accupunture

Dr Mann first studied acupuncture in 1958 in the traditional Chinese manner. He spent ten years learning to read medical Chinese in order to study ancient and modern books in their original language, and spent time in China.

On the basis of his clinical experience, however, he soon realised that the traditional theoretical foundation of acupuncture is fundamentally incorrect, and over the last thirty years has evolved a different system of acupuncture - described in his publication 'Reinventing Acupuncture' - based on the tender areas, quite often large and of variable position, which may be found in disease. Account is taken of the radiation of pain a patient may experience, which is different from the course of meridians. This system correlates with the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.

Much of the teaching conforms to neurophysiological concepts, and the system is particularly suitable for doctors trained in Western medicine, with or without previous experience of acupuncture. Scientific acupuncture is easier to understand because it fits in with modern medical training better than a system based on a metaphysical philosophy. Even those versed in traditional acupuncture find Dr Mann's system as well as concepts such as periosteal acupuncture, micro-acupuncture and Strong Reactors new to them.

Traditional acupuncture often requires numerous and frequent treatments, using a large number of needles and strong, lengthy stimulation. This system enables doctors to obtain a good response from a substantial proportion of patients after only a few treaments, usually involving just a couple of gentle needle pricks lasting a few seconds. The simplicity of this system is particularly suited to busy general or specialist practice.

Publications

* [http://www.felixmann.co.uk/Reinventing_Acupunture.pdf "Reinventing Acupuncture"] (1992) 1st edition, also in German and Italian; (1996) Revised 1st edition; (2000) 2nd edition.
*"Textbook of Acupuncture" (1987) Omnibus
* [http://www.felixmann.co.uk/Scientific_Acupunture.pdf "Scientific Aspects of Acupuncture"] (1977) 1st edition; (1982) 2nd edition, also in Japanese.
*"Acupuncture: Cure of Many Diseases" (1971) 1st edition; (1972) Pan edition; (1972) USA edition; (1972) Revised edition, also in Spanish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Swedish; (1992) 2nd edition.
*"Atlas of Acupuncture" (1966), 13 reprints
*"The Meridians of Acupuncture" (1964), also in Italian
*"The Treatment of Disease by Acupuncture" (1963); (1967) 2nd edition; (1974) 3rd edition
*"Acupuncture: The Ancient Chinese Art of Healing" (1962); (1962) Revised; (1971) 2nd edition; (1973) Revised edition; (1981) 3rd edition; (1963) & (1972) USA editions, also in Italian

References

External links

* [http://www.felixmann.co.uk www.felixmann.co.uk] Felix Mann's website

Persondata
NAME = Mann, Felix
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Mann, Felix B
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Doctor
DATE OF BIRTH = 10 April 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH = Germany
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =