The paper introduces the experience of Professor LI Rui in treatment of diseases with bloodletting therapy. Regarding acupoint selection, the main acupoints are selected from the meridians containing excessive blood based on the identification of pathogenesis, and the back-shu points of the foot-taiyang bladder meridian are predominant. The acupoints (e.g. Geshu [BL17], Xuehai [SP10] and Weizhong [BL40]) acting on blood regulations are frequently selected, and the acupoints from the governor vessel (e.g. Dazhui [GV14], Zhiyang [GV9] and Yaoyangguan [GV3]) are specially used for regulating yang qi. Besides, the five-shu points and local points are combined in the prescriptions. This paper expounds the connotation of bloodletting therapy, explores the basis of acupoint selection and clinical application characteristics, and analyzes the clinical cases, so as to provide the approaches to acupoint selection for the clinical application of bloodletting therapy.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Bloodletting ; Meridians

Objective:To observe the effects of Yiyuan moxibustion on bladder function and antioxidant level of spinal cord tissues in rats with urinary retention after spinal cord injury (SCI); To explore the mechanism of inhibition of ferroptosis in spinal cord neurons after SCI by Yiyuan moxibustion.Methods:Wistar female rats were divided into sham-operation group, model group, and Yiyuan moxibustion group according to random number table method, with 12 rats in each group. The modified Allen′s vertical percussion method was used to construct the model of urinary retention after SCI in T10 segment. The rats in the Yiyuan moxibustion group were moxibued at the Zhongji acupoint, Guanyuan acupoint, and Shenque acupoint for 20 min per day, and the intervention was continued for 2 weeks. Urodynamic test was used to observe the degree of urinary retention in rats; HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the injured spinal cord tissues; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure of the spinal cord tissues; ferric ion kit was used to detect the ferric ion content of the spinal cord tissues; ELISA was used to detect the GSH and MDA contents of the spinal cord tissues of the rats; Western blot was used to measure the relative expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) proteins in rat spinal cord tissue.Results:Compared with the model group, the basal and leakage point pressures of the bladder, and bladder compliance were significantly reduced in the Yiyuan moxibustion group ( P<0.05); the spinal cord tissue structure was restored and mitochondrial morphology improved; the levels of iron ions and MDA in spinal cord tissue decreased ( P<0.05), while the level of GSH increased ( P<0.05), and the relative expressions of GPX4 and SLC7A11 proteins increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Yiyuan moxibustion can improve bladder function in rats with urinary retention after SCI, and the mechanism may involve the initiation of antioxidant defense and reduction of lipid peroxidation in spinal cord neuronal cells, thus preventing the occurrence of ferroptosis and achieving the protection of neuronal cells.