15 May 2026 Dear friends, colleagues and supporters, It has been a busy few months since I last had the opportunity to setup a commentary or forward some of the interesting current links from the English-language journals and research. But, busy it has been. One of my major projects since OIRF.com went live last September has been completed (for now). The newly revised, reformatted and updated version of the Praxis2Practice website has now also gone live. As you look over this month’s translated articles and information, I invite you

Diseases of Civilization Gout Alarm The Best Therapies Against the Endemic Disease Gout – a term that sounds to many like a disease from past centuries. But the reality is different: More and more people in modern societies are affected. Gout is now considered a disease of civilization – triggered by excess, lack of exercise and an unbalanced diet. What is behind this painful joint disease, and how can naturopathy help? This article gives an overview of causes, symptoms and holistic therapeutic approaches for gout. Gout is a metabolic

In Memoriam Peter Mandel 1941 - 2026 We say goodbye to Peter Mandel, an extraordinary person who shaped naturopathy for decades: Born in Breslau in 1941, his path led him early into the healing professions: in 1959 he began his training as a nurse, followed by qualifications as a medical lifeguard, chiropractor, acupuncturist and reflexology therapist. In 1970 he passed the naturopathic examination – a step that laid the foundation for a life's work that radiates far beyond the boundaries of the profession. With inexhaustible curiosity, a spirit of

Operating Instructions for the “Remedy Information Transfer Unit” (RITU) This instruction manual was researched, developed and written by Dr. Walter D. Sturm, one of the founding Directors of Occidental Institute Research Foundation, and was initially published in January, 1987. This amplifier affectionately called the Remedy Information Transfer Unit (or RITU) is sadly no longer made by Med-Tronik. However, the information gathered here provides the detailed and precise instructions (as only Dr. Sturm could do!) on how to produce digital copies of the input remedy information. This procedure can still be applied using the “A” (All) circuit of any

Rejuvenessence ® A Manual for the Non-Surgical Face Lifting Technique from the Orient This Manual and technique were researched and developed for Occidental Institute Research Foundation by Walter D. Sturm, PhD, HMD, DAcu. It was used for a series of seminars held between 1978-1984 around the USA and Canada during a time when traditional acupuncture was still ridiculed and often persecuted. This offered acupuncturists a method that would somewhat remove them from “medical” scrutiny and rather allow them to practice under cosmetic or spa regulations. Highly popular for that reason

MORA Color Therapy According to Dr. Zenon Gruba This 41 page report was adapted (with permission) from the Power Point presentation given by Dr. Zenon W. Gruba during the Med-Tronik International MORA Symposium in Rust, Germany, November 3, 2006. A detailed description of treatment of all acute “things” including trauma, inflammations, allergies, etc. as well as chronic disorders, rheumatism, infections, foci and total body color acupuncture. How to choose the correct colors, number of treatments and a clear indication of the fact that: MORA Color does not cover symptoms. If MORA

The Genital System By Dr. Jean-Claude Darras The Genital System. Translated by Carolyn L. Winsor; revised and edited by Sean Christian Marshall, DSc based on the work and research of Jean-Claude Darras, MD. Advanced traditional acupuncture information explaining the energetics of the genital system including disorders and treatment. Twenty-three pages now available in digital PDF format. Learn more on OIRF

Transliterations of Chinese Acupuncture Point Names Translated by Michael C. Barnett, DAcu, OMD, LAc Transliterations of the Chinese Acupuncture Point Names with Explanations. This is a supplement to the Modern & Traditional Acupuncture Program. Every single traditional acupuncture point is shown with the point name transliteration (with both new and old – Pinyin and Wade Giles – spellings) along with a full explanation. Translated from French by Michael C. Barnett, DAcu, LAc from the work and research of Jean-Claude Darras, MD. Thirty-five pages now available in digital PDF format. Learn more on OIRF

The MORA Concept by Dr. med. Franz Morell (Out of Print – Photocopy Only) This is a translation of a German book written by the late Dr. med. Franz Morell. The 158 pages also cover MORA-Therapy use for allergies and geopathic stress, Five Element work, and the older model MORA-Color Therapy unit. This is must reading for those who already have such units or are considering purchase. NOTE: This book has been out of print for a long time. A digital “photocopy” of this book is available in PDF format. Learn

EAV Mini-Manual for Point and Medication Testing I am pleased to announce the introduction of a new publication for those learning the EAV-type point and medication testing methods. What I have called the “EAV Mini-Manual” is a careful and precise compilation of the information that is used in the traditional EAV measurement approach using the distal (or Ting) points. Then, to reflect the more modern approaches used for example by Dr. Simon Yu in his Acupuncture Meridian Assessment method, the same detailed information is organized for each Control Measurement Point (CMP) and a