Through analyzing the every textual research literature on the origin of the location method of ashi points, it is pointed out that the location method of ashi points has been generalized. It is known through systematic research and theoretical identification that this method refers to the simple way to locate the points, originated from the folk, and it is widely used to find the sites for pain relief when compared to the official education of meridians and acupoints, as well as treatment. At the time with the shortage of medical services and supplies, the poor people had no alternative, which results in a certain limitation. Modern acupuncture practitioners must associate ashi points with the acupoints of fourteen meridians and the extraordinary points in clinical practice, and deepen the exploration with modern medical knowledge and technology adopted.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Meridians ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature ; China

Professor LI Zhidao puts forward the application of "group acupoints" in his clinical practice by imitating the mutual reinforcement and mutual assistance of Chinese herbal medicine. It is based on the theory as "where is the acupoint located, what are the indications of this acupoint"; and consists with the specific actions of ancient needling techniques at acupoints. The distribution of "group acupoints" is in line with the "located by the region division of the head and trunk, and by the meridians on the four extremities", which is recorded in Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (the Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). It shows "the importance of the relationship between acupoints and zangfu", and "the emphasis on the distribution of nerves and muscles" respectively. In clinical practice, controlling needling sensation is the essence of this technique at "group acupoints", the integration of acupoints and needling technique is the basic requirement, and the step-by-step needling manipulation is critical for obtaining the therapeutic effect. "Group acupoints" combined with specific needling technique advance the application efficiency and the effect of acupoints.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; China ; History, 20th Century ; Meridians ; Medicine in Literature ; Acupuncture/history*

This paper introduces the academic characteristics of Professor ZHANG Ren in treatment with acupuncture for refractory eye diseases in modern times, guided by "homotherapy for heteropathy" (same therapy for different diseases sharing the same pathogenesis). The refractory eye diseases in modern times include a variety of conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, high myopia and its complications, dry eye, cortical visual impairment and genetic eye diseases. The same therapy is used because these diseases share the similar location and pathogenesis. Professor ZHANG optimizes the methods of acupoint selection and provides the comprehensive prescriptions, "basic prescription, prescription based on disease differentiation, and supplementary prescription". A variety of acupuncture manipulation techniques are operated in clinical practice, such as compound needling methods, penetration needling, manipulations for promoting qi movement and conducting qi flow. "Early, regular and persistent" treatment is the common requirement with "the same acupoints, the same prescription and the same acupuncture method" as well as at "the same time". It is also proposed that the treatment should be provided flexibly according to the different symptoms, "identifying the differences within similarities".
Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; Eye Diseases/history* ; Acupuncture Points ; History, 20th Century ; China ; History, 21st Century

The paper introduces the reconstruction of Professor JI Laixi's modern paradigm of thought, "making use of various therapeutic methods". Professor JI Laixi reveres the concept of "integration of western medicine and TCM" and advocates the "combination of advantageous techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion". Guided by the concept of "combination of superiority, and coordinated adjustment", a multi-mode intervention is delivered in treatment, including the operation with the nine needles, relaxation with acupotomy, acupoint thread-embedding, Chinese herbal compounds and adjuvant therapy with western medicines, so as to obtain dynamic adjustment of multiple targets and levels, "taking effectiveness as the first priority". The pathway of clinical practice is determined and clear, which provides a paradigm of "upholding the right and innovating" for the modernization of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; China ; Moxibustion/history* ; History, 20th Century ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; Acupuncture/history*

In 2012, a total of eight medical books were compiled from Tianhui medical bamboo slips unearthed in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, which for the first time, recorded bafa (ba technique) and acupuncture technique. Bafa is only found in Tianhui medical bamboo slips. Based on the records in medical bamboo slips, it is believed that the essential theory of bafa refers to an outlook of life for the harmony between form and spirit, meaning "the heart mind is the monarch of form". It is the initial view of physique centered on five-zang organs. In clinical application, bafa is used for prevention of diseases in four seasons, specially for wubi (five-bi disorders) and wufeng (five-wind disorders), covering a extensive parts of the body. Compared with the stone technique, "bafa must work on meridian points, while stone on meridians". Bafa is often used for deficiency syndrome, while stone technique is for excess syndrome. Hence, these two types of technique should be applied cautiously. It is speculated that bafa is an external therapeutic method based on the theory of meridian medicine in the Han Dynasty.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; China ; History, Ancient ; Meridians ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; Books/history* ; Acupuncture Points ; Medicine in Literature

This paper summarizes professor GAO Shu-zhong's academic thought of acupuncture and moxibustion. Professor GAO studies classic literature and clarifies the authentic Chinese medicine from the origin. He provides the unique understandings on the theories, e.g "four passes", gaohuang, the flowing rule of nutrient and defensive qi, lung governing management and regulation and moxibustion for sinking of qi. By analyzing the differences in diagnosis and treatment between acupuncture and herbal medication therapies and exploring the syndrome/pattern differentiation, he advocates the rules of disorder differentiation and treatment in clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, creates GAO 's three-promotion theory and summarizes the characteristic diagnostic methods. He proposes novel statement, perfects theoretic system and creates GAO's extra points. He puts forward that the human acupoint system should be reconstructed to compose of two systems, i.e. meridian acupoints and collateral acupoints systems. Professor GAO pays the attention to acupuncture techniques, proposes a trinity needling technique, "pulse diagnosis, acupoint detection and qi differentiation under needle", and applies different needling techniques in treatment accordingly. He thinks highly of moxibustion, especially umbilicus moxibustion therapy, which has been used widely in practice. Besides, professor GAO provides the comprehensive methods flexibly, with acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medication in combination.
Acupuncture/history* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Moxibustion/history*

Professor ZHANG Shan-chen's clinical experience and academic thoughts in the field of acupuncture are summarized. Professor ZHANG stresses on theoretical exploration and has written Zhenjiu Jiayijing Shuxue Chongji, published a series of articles on textual research and expounded the nomenclature of acupoints. He believes that clinical practice should be guided by theory and the comprehensive syndrome differentiation be emphasized. Hence, a holistic idea should be cultivated, in which, the human body is considered as an organic whole and should be adaptive to the nature. Based on the theory above, the diagnosis can be determined and the effective treatment be received. He suggests selecting few acupoints, identifying the deficiency from the excess so as to determine the reinforcing or replenishing method and exerting appropriate needling manipulation. Additionally, the response should be enhanced on the identification of deqi after needle insertion. Moreover, a great consideration is laid on the clinical trial and application of moxibustion, which is complemented with acupuncture technique each other and mutually conductive to the clinical effect.
Acupuncture/history* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Needles

Numerology has a long history in China and has the profound impacts on every academic field in TCM, with acupuncture involved. In this paper, the impacts on acupuncture were discussed in different aspects such as the numbers of meridians, the length of meridian, the time taboo of acupuncture, acupuncture manipulation and time acupuncture. It was found that numerology had laid the critical impact on acupuncture and had the profound imprint nowadays. It is of great significance to study the numerology theory in its impacts on acupuncture, in the exploration on the theories behind acupuncture as well as the comprehensive understanding of acupuncture.
Acupuncture ; history ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; methods ; Books ; China ; Culture ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Time

With esoterica of Infantile Tuina by LI Dexiu and Infantile Tuina Therapy of LIU Kaiyun, the differences and similarities of manipulations, acupoints and the principles of treatment were studied so as to provide theoretical evidence to popularize tuina of LI Dexiu and LIU Kaiyun.
Acupuncture Points ; China ; Female ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; therapy ; Male ; Massage ; history ; manpower ; methods

Professor JIA Chunsheng believes that "Dongyuan's acupuncture therapy" proposed by GAO Wu could not entirely reflect LI Dongyuan's academic thought of acupuncture and moxibustion. Hence, we collected all of the academic works of LI Dongyuan and extracted the texts relevant with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy, titled as Dongyuan's acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. This process contributed to the deeper study on Dongyuan's acupuncture and moxibustion academic thought. By the influence of Dongyuan's acupuncture-moxibustion academic thought, in association with his clinical experience for dozens of years, Professor JIA Chunsheng proposed that acupuncture and moxibustion should pay attention to the regulation and tonification of spleen and kidney. In clinical practice, Zhongwan (CV 12), bilateral Tianshu (ST 25), Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are commonly selected to consolidate the root, cultivate the primary and treat the spleen and kidney simultaneously. The locations of the above selected points are distributed like a star. This "star-like point selection method" points to the importance of the spleen and kidney (the primary qi). For many diseases, especially the disorders of internal injury, the star-like acupuncture therapy is commonly used and the relevant acupoints are supplemented. The good clinical efficacy has been achieved.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; methods ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history ; methods