In Weisheng Baojian (Treasures on Health), the compatibility of Qihai (CV6) and Zusanli (ST36) was widely used in the medical cases treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. Through analyzing the medical cases and summarizing the rules of acupoint compatibility, it is found that LUO Tianyi's idea of moxibustion at these two acupoints was different from the other medical masters. He combined these two acupoints in line with "spleen and stomach theory", rather than from the perspective of the direct relationship of acupoints with syndromes and zangfu organs. It reflects the diversity in the understanding of the human body and diseases among medical masters. Therefore, in order to analyze the representative understandings of ancient medical masters on the connotation and rules of acupuncture and moxibustion, we cannot simply focus on the summary from acupuncture-moxibustion masters. It is suggested that the analysis should be expended in the entire field of traditional Chinese medicine to explore the general rules of treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, investigate the differences, and deepen the basic reasons of the distinction.
Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; China ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*

Zangxiang Jingmai Yuanliu Zeyin (Exploration of Origin and Development of Visceral Manifestations and Meridians) traces the historical origin for the development of the theories of visceral manifestation and meridians and in terms of the guiding principles and cultural background of these theories structured by the ancients. It chains the clues of the related knowledge development in Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic) based on the rich historic literature. By interpreting the classics through history and in view of the specific humanistic perspective, the book exhibits the non-linear evolution track of the theoretical knowledge of visceral manifestation and meridians in the pre-Qin and Han dynasties. It is an important works in the field of acupuncture and humanities, and enlightens the cross-exploration of acupuncture, even in the circle of academic study of TCM and the humanities.
Humans ; China ; History, Ancient ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Acupuncture/history* ; Books/history* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*

Zangxiang Jingmai Yuanliu Zeyin (Exploration of Origin and Development of Visceral Manifestation and Meridians) reveals that the theory of visceral manifestation and meridians of TCM is evolved with Tiandao (way of heaven) in different periods of ancient times. In the Warring States period, the "way of heaven" referred to yinyang and four directions, based on which, the manifestation of four viscera was developed. During the Qin and Han dynasties, six meridians were developed on the basis of six types of qi. In terms of "six types of qi and five elements", five zang, six fu and eleven meridians were structured in TCM. Corresponding to the twelve cycles of the ecliptic and celestial sphere, twelve meridians were composed. The book displays a particular style of research with rich quotations, and provides a new way of thinking for the study of ancient TCM books.
Meridians ; Humans ; History, Ancient ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; Books/history*

Through the investigation of relevant literature, the concepts, methods, languages and tools of ontology were explored, and the suitable methods and tools for the ontology construction of acupoint anatomy were selected. The current mainstream anatomical ontology and related ontology of TCM were investigated so as to provide the reference for the ontology construction of acupoint anatomy. According to the knowledge attributes of acupoint anatomy, the foundational model of anatomy (FMA) was served as the reusable ontology, and in association with the attribute classification of traditional Chinese medicine language system (TCMLS), the construction approach to acupoint anatomical ontology was explored. By taking "anatomical entity of acupoints" as the top-level concept, the demonstrative study on the anatomical ontology construction was conducted on the acupoints of lung meridian of hand-taiyin.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Biological Ontologies

Treatment based on meridian differentiation is a characteristic method in clinical acupuncture diagnosis and treatment. Accurately defining and explaining its main content and core concepts is essential for effective clinical guidance. This paper reviews the historical and contemporary understanding, concepts, and primary content of treatment based on meridian differentiation. It proposes a four-step process for clinical application: meridian examination, treatment based on meridian differentiation, acupoint selection, and appropriate treatment methods, with TCM syndrome differentiation applied throughout. Constructing a diagnostic and treatment system which is based on meridian differentiation and suited to clinical acupuncture is significant for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and maximizing the benefits of acupuncture in disease treatment.
Humans ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the development status of meridian diagnosis technology through the patent analysis, so as to obtain the hot spots of patents and provide the ideas for the research and development of new equipment. METHODS: The patent data of meridian diagnosis technology were searched from Chinese Think Tank of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The patent analysis and SWOT method were used to deeply explore the patent application of meridian diagnosis technology. RESULTS: Among 100 patents included, the inventions were mainly in Chinese mainland, and the invention institution was from Chengdu University of TCM. Since 2015, the number of patent application for meridian diagnosis technology was increasing, and up to a peak from 2020 to 2021. The main technological programs cover electrical, temperature and optical detection; and the application functions focus on the precise positioning of acupoints, and the diagnosis of zangfu diseases. CONCLUSION From the perspective of patents, it is suggested that the development of meridian diagnosis technology in China should pay attention to reducing the cost, improving the function, driving the standard formulation, strengthening safety measure, deepening human-machine interaction, exploring biological effect and optimizing the experimental platform. Through continuous innovation and breakthrough, the meridian diagnosis technology can be further matured and widely applied, so as to realize its comprehensive upgrade.
Meridians ; Humans ; Patents as Topic ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/instrumentation* ; China ; Acupuncture Points

Several metal needles were unearthed from the tomb of LIU He, the Marquis of Haihun in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. Based on the inscription on the signboard unearthed from the tomb and the handed down literature, these needles should be closely related to the "nine needles" mentioned in the handed down medical classics. These needles should be used in acupuncture and moxibustion at that time, and their diameters are close to the specifications and dimensions of the needles in the modern time, which provides the important cultural relics data of the Han Dynasty for the research of early acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine. This article uses the method of mutual verification of unearthed cultural relics, unearthed documents, and handed down documents to investigate the acupuncture method of medical needles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun, and to sort out and demonstrate the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western Han Dynasty. The medical needles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun and their needling techniques can be confirmed by the "nine needles" in the Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot), the "acupuncture treatment" in the bamboo slips of the Han Dynasty in the Northwest, and the "acupuncture atlas" on the Han portrait stone. It proves that the manufacturing of needles for acupuncture and moxibustion and the therapeutic methods and techniques of acupuncture had been greatly developed in the middle and late stages of the Western Han Dynasty.
Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Needles/history* ; China ; Humans ; History, Ancient ; Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/instrumentation*

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation equipment is a kind of characteristic therapeutic devices developed on the basis of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and modern science and technology, which is widely used in clinical practice. Significant breakthroughs have been made in the development of related devices such as transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) devices, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices, and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) devices in recent years. Although the market for these devices is vast, there are still limitations that need to be optimized in terms of electrode materials and power supply methods, bulky instrument size, cumbersome wiring, restricted applications, and inadequate intelligent functionality. In the future, it is still necessary to further build upon the theoretical foundation of TCM acupuncture, integrate a variety of modern scientific technologies to advance the intelligence and modernization of acupuncture equipment, and thereby improving its capabilities to support clinical practice and research.
Humans ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The paper summarizes the authorized invention patents, device registration and the relevant published articles of acupuncture medical devices of TCM in recent 5 years, and analyzes the current status and challenges in this field. It is discovered that the optimization and substitution in diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture are involved in the development of acupuncture medical devices. The technology application of these devices are composed of traditional and emerging engineering technologies; and the theoretical guidance for their development requires the integration of traditional acupuncture principles with modern medical theories. The development of acupuncture medical devices highlights the characteristics of multidimensional integration, treatment for specific ailments, portability and wearability, painlessness and non-invasion, precision and personalization, as well as intelligent automation. Upon analysis, it is shown that in the development and product transformation of acupuncture medical devices in recent years, the theoretical principles of acupuncture of TCM have not been fully utilized yet, the transformation of patented product is low, the clinical evidence of product is insufficient, and the market competitiveness needs improvement. In the future, The theoretic guidance of acupuncture of TCM should be enhanced in the development of acupuncture medical devices, a production-education- research model with the combination of medicine and engineering be constructed, clinical verification of product be emphasized, and product development paradigms be advanced, so as to meet the demands of the medical market.
Acupuncture Therapy/trends* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/instrumentation* ; Equipment and Supplies

Zhenjiu Bianyong Tukao (Illustration on Acupuncture and Moxibustion) is composed of the empirical prescriptions, dictated by ZHANG Xichun, the medical master of acupuncture in the Qing Dynasty, recorded and drawn in detail by SU Yuanzhen. There are 5 existing editions of this book preserved, and stored in library of Shanghai University of TCM, bookstore of Nanjing Ancient Classics, library of Heilongjiang Provincial Institute of TCM, library of Beijing University of CM, and China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, respectively. Different from the official canonical book, this book provides a simplified and easily understandable contents, including 3 sections, named illustrations, prescriptions, and medicinal properties. In the book, the acupoints were illustrated specially rather than character portrayal, and the empirical treatment for painful symptoms was emphasized. The majority of prescriptions was intended for external application, often accompanied by ritualistic incantations. Medicinal herbs were systematically classified, and the effects were described clearly. This book provides the records on the experience in treatment for common diseases in rural areas, combined with the unique pictorial view of acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions, representing the diversity of local medicine in the Qing Dynasty.
China ; Humans ; Books/history* ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture/history*