This article has analyzed the source and clinical significance of statement of "if keeping health, Zusanli (ST36) frequently being given moxibustion" based on philology and medical principles.The statement was recorded in Suosuilu (Trivial Details of Traditional Chinese Medicine) written in early Southern Song Dynasty, which was originally designed for preventing and curing wind diseases.The moxibustion on ST36 is to diffuse and unblock qi and blood of zang-fu organs, but is not to give festering moxibustion.If the statement is explained as repeated festering moxibustion, Yubaizhuang moxibution recorded in Beijiqianjinyaofang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies) and Bao moxibution recorded in Zhenjiuzishengjing (Classic of Nourishing Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion) used only in the condition of excessive yang deficiency will be misunderstood.Acupressure, frottage and foot bath can be selected in ST36 healthcare.Considering safety, some mild moxibustion therapies are recommended, such as suspended moxibustion and sandwiched moxibustion, in patients with obvious cold symptoms.

No ancient records of bigu(abstinence from grains)for life nurturing in healthy people have been identified although it was originally a taoist asceticism for pursuing immortality.The TCM classics of Huangdi Neijing and Nanjing have shown that healthy person with bigu would die of losing spirit after sev-en days.Bigu and life nurturing have been divided into different chapters to show the difference in the ancient medical books.The taoist doctors oppose bigu on account of early death and malady.Shiqi Bigu (eating qi with abstinence from grains)lacks theoretical evidence and no success cases could be verified."Bloating without appetite"originally refers to the symptom(anorexia)of spleen deficiency pattern.This term is used in Taoist practice to denote willpower of"eliminating desire"(zhinian)in taoist cultivation. Without precise fabrication,bigu prescriptions tend to consist of 80%sweet-flavored ingredients or grain and tonic herbs,which may be the actual cause of bloating and anorexia with safety concern.Bigu seems to have deviated from the ancient rule of TCM"well-balanced diet with the grains, meats, fruits and vegetables for health",and also violated the principle of"food variety with grain dominant"diet in mod-ern nutrition.There is no rationality to include bigu into the life nurturing methods or therapies of tradi-tional Chinese medicine.