Serie A No 253

Magazine Overview

Title: ARCANUM
Issue: Serie A - nr 253
Date: January 28, 1978
Publisher: Provinstidningen Dalsland
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

Article: AKUPUNKTURDOKTOR I ÅMÅL: MAN MÅSTE GE SIG TID TALA MED MÄNNISKOR!

This article introduces Dr. Sandor Markus, a doctor of naturopathy and acupuncture, who opened a clinic in Åmål, Sweden, in December of the previous year. His clinic is the only one of its kind in the Dalsland and Värmland regions. Despite not advertising, his clinic attracts an increasing number of patients seeking help for conditions such as rheumatism, migraines, allergies, and nervous disorders. Markus notes that he often receives difficult cases from individuals who have suffered for many years and have not found relief from conventional medicine. He criticizes conventional medicine for treating symptoms and potentially harming one organ while trying to help another, emphasizing the importance of identifying the root cause of an illness, which may lie far in the past.

Markus stresses the necessity of taking time with patients and talking to them, stating that a doctor's duty is to help their fellow human beings. He expresses a belief that the current social welfare system in Sweden does not seem particularly interested in this patient-centered approach, often prioritizing principles over individual needs. He anticipates a change within the medical system over time.

Before entering the field of natural medicine, Sandor Markus was a machine and data engineer. He transitioned to healthcare, working in somatic care and with drug addicts and alcoholics, where he realized that conventional medicine could be detrimental. He asserts that natural remedies yield better results than chemically synthesized medicines. Lacking formal education in naturopathy and acupuncture in Sweden, he pursued his studies in France and Ecuador.

Markus acknowledges the existence of charlatans in the field but suggests that requiring a basic medical education for practitioners can help protect legitimate practices. He explains that acupuncture, a 6,000-year-old Chinese system, works by addressing imbalances between positive and negative ions in the body, thereby restoring electrical balance. Diagnosis involves measuring the electrical resistance of the nervous system to pinpoint the source of illness. This approach is rooted in a holistic view of the human being and can be applied to various conditions, including mental health issues, as a simple and inexpensive method.

He observes that Scandinavia remains largely skeptical of acupuncture, contrasting this with countries like Germany, Switzerland, France, and the USA, where it complements conventional medicine and practitioners collaborate.

Markus expresses a desire to collaborate with medical doctors, but notes that their attitudes towards acupuncture vary. While many dismiss it, some are open to it but hesitant to admit it publicly. Personally, Markus believes that acupuncture alone may not be sufficient to cure a person and incorporates electrotherapy and biological medicine into his practice.

He describes his diagnostic methods as varied and complex. He can identify bodily disturbances by taking a pulse, noting that there are six distinct pulses related to different organs. He can also diagnose by examining a patient's eye or measuring nerve points in the ear. The clinic in Åmål is his first, with future plans to expand his practice to include helping individuals with alcohol and smoking problems.

The article is sourced from Provinstidningen Dalsland, dated Saturday, January 28, 1978, and written by Eva Svensson.

Images and Captions

Page 2 features two photographs. The first shows Sandor Markus pointing to a model of the human body, explaining that there are approximately 2,000 nerve points. He states that by measuring the electrical resistance in the nervous system, he can determine where a disturbance in the body is located.

The second photograph shows Sandor Markus using a nerve point detector to diagnose an intern, Leif Lundberg, from Örnsköldsvik.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of ARCANUM revolve around alternative medicine, specifically acupuncture and naturopathy, and a critique of the conventional Swedish medical system. The editorial stance appears to be supportive of alternative healing methods and patient-centered care, highlighting the potential benefits of approaches like acupuncture while also acknowledging the need for qualified practitioners and potential collaboration with conventional medicine. There is an underlying theme of advocating for a more holistic and individualized approach to healthcare, contrasting it with what is perceived as a rigid and principle-driven system.