OBJECTIVETo expound rules of acupoint heat-sensitization and its clinical application.

METHODSAnalyze and probe rules of acupoint heat-sensitization and its clinical application from the acupoint heat-sensitization phenomenon.

RESULTS(1) In the human being there are two functional states, sensitization state and rest state. When the human body has disease, acupoints on the body surface may be sensitized with various types of sensitization, and acupoint heat-sensitization is a type of acupoint sensitization. The sensitized acupoints show acupoint-specific "small stimulation inducing large response" for external relative stimulation. (2) Optimum stimulation for the heat-sensitized acupoint is moxibustion-heat, also it is the optimum point for moxibustion therapy, with a therapeutic effect far better than acupuncture and moxibustion at acupoints of routine rest state. (3) Heat-sensitized acupoints under moxibustion-heat stimulation very easily invigorates moxibustion sensation propagation along channels, greatly increasing clinical therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSIONAdvancing the concept of acupoint heat-sensitization perfects and develops the theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, "Only reaches the needling sensation to the affected area, can the needling produce effects".