About Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur

Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur

The Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur (DZA), in English the German Journal of Acupuncture and Related Techniques, is the leading German-language specialist journal for acupuncture and related methods, published quarterly by Springer Medizin in Berlin. It stands for the scientific investigation and practical application of all forms of acupuncture, moxibustion, laser therapy, neural therapy, reflex therapy, Tuina, dietetics, phytotherapy and homeopathy in clinical and private practice. Described by its publisher as the highest-circulation acupuncture journal outside China, with a print run of around 13,000 to 15,000 copies, it is the official organ of five German and Austrian acupuncture societies, including the Deutsche Ärztegesellschaft für Akupunktur (DÄGfA). The journal applies scientific standards including peer review and evidence-based medicine, representing acupuncture within an integrative medicine framework that combines modern scientific thinking with traditional knowledge. This positioning is deliberate: rather than treating acupuncture as an alternative outside conventional medicine, the DZA presents it as a set of techniques to be investigated with the methods of clinical science and integrated into modern healthcare where the evidence supports it.

Overview

Acupuncture occupies a special position in German medicine: it is practised by thousands of physicians, partially reimbursed by statutory health insurers for certain indications such as chronic back and knee pain, and supported by a growing body of clinical research. The DZA serves as the scientific forum for this community, addressing physicians and therapists who use acupuncture and related techniques in their daily work. It appears four times a year in print and online, with each issue combining scientific articles, practice-oriented contributions and professional news.

The journal's scope extends well beyond needling alone. "Related Techniques" covers moxibustion, the warming of acupuncture points with mugwort; laser acupuncture; neural therapy, the injection of local anaesthetics developed in Germany; reflex therapies; Tuina, the Chinese manual therapy; dietetics; phytotherapy; and homeopathy. This broad definition reflects the reality of integrative practice, where physicians combine acupuncture with other complementary and conventional methods.

The editorial concept is organised around three main sections: science, practice, and healthcare and social affairs, each subdivided into specific rubrics, with focus topics in every issue. The journal's archive on the Springer platform spans from volume 46/2003 to the current volume 69/2026, documenting more than two decades of acupuncture research and practice. Its print ISSN is 0415-6412 and its electronic ISSN is 1439-4359.

History

The DZA's lineage reaches back to the early years of organised acupuncture in Germany. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Akupunktur, founded in 1951 by Gerhard Bachmann and Heribert Schmidt as a medical specialist society, published a "Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur" until 1969, which from 1957 also served as the organ of the Austrian Society for Acupuncture. The modern DZA continues this tradition as the central publication for the German-speaking acupuncture community.

For many years the journal was published by Elsevier's Urban and Fischer imprint before moving to Springer Medizin, with the first issue under the Springer roof appearing in February 2018. The publisher described the relaunch as a new chapter for the renowned journal, appointing new editors, enlarging the editorial team, and introducing a refreshed structure with the three main sections of science, practice and healthcare/social affairs, plus focus topics in each issue. Dr. Dr. Tom Ots continued as editor-in-chief through the transition, ensuring editorial continuity.

The move to Springer Medizin, one of Germany's largest medical publishers, gave the journal access to professional editorial infrastructure, the Springer Medizin digital platform and the publisher's wider medical audience. The relaunch was welcomed by the readership, with the publisher reporting praise for the improved readability and the more open layout. Since 2018 the journal has continued its quarterly rhythm under Springer, serving as the official organ of an expanded circle of societies.

Coverage and Content

The science section carries original research articles, reviews and study reports on acupuncture and related techniques, with university-affiliated section editors ensuring academic standards. Topics range from basic research on acupuncture mechanisms to clinical trials on indications such as pain, allergies, neurological disorders and gynaecological conditions. The journal applies peer review and evidence-based medicine criteria, positioning acupuncture research within the standards of modern clinical science while preserving traditional knowledge.

The practice section translates knowledge into clinical application, with case reports, technique descriptions, treatment protocols and practical tips for the acupuncture practice. Focus topics in each issue allow in-depth treatment of subjects such as the acupuncture therapy of hay fever, with contributions from different experts approaching the theme from complementary angles. This combination of scientific rigour and practical utility reflects the journal's dual mission of advancing research and serving practitioners.

The healthcare and social affairs section addresses the framework conditions of acupuncture practice: reimbursement policies, professional politics, training and certification, and the integration of acupuncture into the healthcare system. As the official organ of five societies, the DZA, the Austrian ÖGA, the DGfAN, the Ärzt:innen für Akupunktur and the Austrian OGKA, the journal publishes society communications, congress reports and position statements, functioning as the internal communication channel of the organised acupuncture community in Germany and Austria. Book reviews, letters to the editor and conference calendars complete the offering, giving readers a full picture of the professional life of acupuncture beyond the consulting room and the laboratory.

Organization and Ownership

The DZA is published by Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, part of Springer Nature, based in Berlin and Heidelberg. The journal's society partnerships define its institutional character: it is the official organ of the Deutsche Ärztegesellschaft für Akupunktur e.V. (DÄGfA), the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Akupunktur e.V. (ÖGA), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Akupunktur und Neuraltherapie e.V. (DGfAN), the Ärzt:innen für Akupunktur (ÄfA) and the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Kontrollierte Akupunktur und TCM (OGKA). These societies, representing thousands of acupuncture-practising physicians and therapists, are evenly represented in the editorial structures.

The editor-in-chief at the time of the Springer relaunch was Dr. Dr. Tom Ots, continuing from the previous publisher. The relaunch significantly enlarged the editorial team, with new section editors including university-affiliated researchers, and the publisher appointed dedicated publishing editors for the journal. The names of the current editorial staff are not confirmed in publicly accessible sources beyond this documented history, so no further personal attribution is made here.

The business model combines subscriptions from individuals and institutions, society memberships that include the journal, and advertising from manufacturers of acupuncture needles, medical devices and training providers. The journal's position as the highest-circulation acupuncture journal outside China gives it a unique reach among both practitioners and the industry that serves them.

Digital Presence

The journal's digital home is the Springer Medizin platform, where its journal page presents the current issue, the archive back to 2003 and the most-read articles. All articles carry digital object identifiers and are discoverable through the Springer Nature Link portal, which also hosts the journal's aims and scope statement. The bilingual German-English presentation of the journal's metadata reflects its international society partnerships and readership beyond the German-speaking countries.

The publisher's digital infrastructure supports the journal's continuing-education and professional functions, with the online archive serving as a reference database for practitioners researching specific indications and techniques. The DZA's society partners maintain their own websites and member communications, which link to and complement the journal's content. For authors, the journal page provides submission information and editorial policies, and for the international acupuncture research community, the DZA's indexed, peer-reviewed articles represent the German-speaking world's contribution to the global evidence base for acupuncture and related techniques.