The ancient medical classics were retrieved to explore narrative on acupoints. And the relevant content of legal calendar in Shiji (Historical Records) and Hanshu (History of the Former Han Dynasty) were taken as a reference. The result showed that the total number of acu-points were based on the number of 365 days of a year. And the corrupts can be restored with the theory of numerology. The 59 heat point originated from the phase of moon, while the 57 water points originated from the number or year related with diasters. Although acupoints are considered to be related with numerology, the recognition of hot points and water points are held to be associated with experiential points in clinic.
Acupuncture ; history ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Mathematical Concepts ; Medicine in Literature

OBJECTIVETo probe into the reflection of "artery" phenomenon in human channels.

METHODSFind out the discussion about "artery" from ancient medical books and compare with Chinese ancient philosophy thoughts.

RESULTSIn TCM, "artery" has been used as reference in differentiating channels. The circulation system of channels is possibly established on the expectation of "to and fro circulation" in the Chinese philosophy, and the power of channels originates from the qi stored between the kidney, and the pricking blood therapy was used for treatment of many kinds of diseases in ancient times.

CONCLUSIONStudy on channels should pay attention to this link of "artery".

UNLABELLEDFind out the discussion about sensation response and controlling spirit in acupuncture from ancient books,

METHODSFind out the discussion about sensation response and controlling spirit in acupuncture from ancient books, including literature, history and philosophy, and analyze, check and compare with the theory of controlling spirit in acupuncture to find out the internal relations.

RESULTSControlling spirit is based on the theory of sensation response, and it is a special training and a treatment course which forwardly controlled by acupuncturist.

CONCLUSIONThe therapy of controlling spirit in acupuncture incarnates that traditional Chinese medicine advocates the experience of life and pays attention to the amalgamation of lives.

With retrieval of the ancient medical classics, the descriptions on meridians and collaterals are checked, and the different methods, way of thinking and presuppositions on experiment of propagated sensation along meridian are studied and compared in this paper. The result shows that the basic feature of meridians and collaterals is based on not the propagated sensation along meridian, but the arteriopalmus. Therefore, propagated sensation along meridian can not reflect the entity of meridian. It is the abuse of inference to conclude that the result of "experiment of progated sensation along meridian" equals to meridians and collaterals. The experimental methods are difficult to be applied on part of the meridian theory that is gained through experiences and practice. Thus, a new foothold should be taken as the basis of study on essence of meridians.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians ; Sensation

The theories of Shushu in the literature of Qin and Han periods are reorganized and related expositions of foreign scholars are consulted, and Shushu theory is compared with the recordation in ancient medical books so as to probe into the relationship between Shushu and theory of meridians together with acupuncture manipulation. It is found that the eleven meridians system is the mathematical foundation of Five Shu Poits, Yuan-primary acupoints and the acupoints of all over the body, and which plays an important role in the theories of TCM. The exterior-interior relationship between viscera and meridians and circulation of ying-qi can be executed on the establishments of twelve meridians system. Shushu can affect needling instrument, needling methods, contraindications, etc. The construction of the meridians theory is full of philosophical dialectics, and it has certain subjectivity but does not influence the ancients to observe physiological phenomenon of viscera and meridians generally.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; methods ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; methods ; Meridians

Lingshu: Gudu (Miraculous Pivot: Bone-Length Measurement) is compared with literatures concerning the Shushu (ancient Chinese numerology) of the Qin Dynasty (221 B. C. - 206 B. C. ) and the Han Dynasty (206 B. C.-220 A. D.) in this article. And it is discovered that "the number of heaven and earth" in Yijing (The Book of Change) was implied in the bone-length measurement. The theory of Shushu is hidden in the sized of head, neck, chest, abdomen, back and 4 extremities according to the measurement. The meaning of establishment of bone-length measurement, which is found to have universality, laid in setting down the measurement of meridians. And it is the origin of the proportional measurement of locating acupoints. Checked with the theory of Shushu, errors in the description of bone-length measurement could also be found in Lingshu: Gudu (Miraculous Pivot: Bone-Length Measurement) of the present edition, which is helpful for the modern study on the measurement.
Acupuncture ; history ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians

The function, circulation, distribution and characteristics of Weiqi (Defensive qi) in ancient literatures are retrieved and extracted in this article to analyze and study the theory of "applying acupuncture according to the properties of Weiqi (Defensive qi)" in Internal Classic. The result shows that Deqi (arrival of qi) is closely related with Weiqi (Defensive qi). The circulation of Weiqi (Defensive qi) has its own temporal regularity, which should be followed by the application of acupuncture. The gathering and scattering of Weiqi (Defensive qi) can be used to explain the relationship between distribution of acupoint and curative effect. Circulation of Weiqi (Defensive qi) is influenced by yang qi in the universe which varies according to seasonal factors. Therefore, acupoint selection according to time should not be adopted mechanically. Furthermore, the circulation of Weiqi (Defensive qi) can be either independent or identical with the channels. Therefore, it is still under discussion whether the needling sensation is actually transmit along the channels in the experiment of "propagated sensation along channels".
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Qi ; Seasons

Assisted with inference, and approved by the ancient medical classics, it is concluded that meridians and collaterals are often felt in the form of qi through imitation of the methods of life experiencing of the ancient people. Ying-qi is considered as jing-qi (meridian qi), which originates from the experiences of respiration. And wei-qi relates with experiences of sleep. Part of meridian theory originated from the traditional Chinese thought of seeking the internal cause but not the external manifestations, and paying attention to the self-adjustment, accomplishment and comprehension. It is also believed that the theory of ying-qi traveling inside the meridians and wei-qi outside the meridians is based on the theory that needling sensation has close relationship with wei-qi.
Acupuncture ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Qi ; history

The existing state of meridians through study of thinking way of unity of subjective and objective of the ancient people was discussed in this paper, so as to review the experiments on meridians. The result indicates that the construction of meridian theory is a life experience of checking the interior of the body, and it is considered that meridians and collaterals are the projects of the mind to the trunk and limbs under the condition of physical and psychological unification. It often differs from the experimental medicine in the identification of ultimate facts. Therefore, meridians revealed by experiments probably greatly differ from its actual existing state. Thus, experimental study of meridian should focus on theory of traditional Chinese medicine concerning the body, energy and the mind, and be applied to verify the experimental result.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Meridians

The theory, methods and ideas of "experiment of progated sensation along meridians (PSM)" were examined in the article through retrieval of ancient medical books, excavating the theory of meridians, the qi of meridians, ying (nutrient) qi, wei (defensive) qi and the related acupuncture techniques. The result shows that PSM is not the reaction of the meridian qi, but the reflection of wei (defensive) qi. Therefore, whether the experiment of PSM revealed with the phenomenon of meridian and all hypothesis based on it or not are still remained as a question. However, although PSM is considered to be related with the wei (defensive) qi, it can not be concluded that the experiment of PSM revealed the function of the wei (defensive) qi.
Humans ; Meridians ; Qi ; Sensation ; Yin-Yang