World Century Compendium To Tcm - Volume 6: Introduction To Acupuncture And Moxibustion

Volume 6: Introduction to Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Ren Zhang, Xue-min Wang

• Publisher: WCPC
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781938134272

Acupuncture and moxibustion are one of the most important contributions our ancestors have made to humankind. In the narrow sense, acupuncture and moxibustion refer to medical therapy, whilst broadly, they are an integral science consisting of four subdisciplines: the subject of meridians and acupoints, the subject of acupuncture and moxibustion techniques, the subject of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, and the subject of experimental acupuncture and moxibustion.

Contents:

• Old Yet Young Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion
• Meridians and Collaterals
• Distribution of the 14 Meridians and Collaterals
• Introduction to Acupoints
• Specific Points
• Commonly Used Acupoints
• Techniques of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
• Prevention and Management of Possible Accidents in Acupuncture Treatment
• Filiform Needles
• Introduction to Acupuncture Manipulations
• Moxibustion
• Cupping, Warm Needling and Fire Needling
• Dermal Needling, Collateral Bloodletting and Intradermal Needling
• Electroacupuncture, Acupoint Application, Acupoint Injection and Acupoint Laser Irradiation
• Ear Acupuncture
• Scalp Acupuncture
• Eye Acupuncture and Wrist–Ankle Acupuncture
• A General Introduction to Acupuncture Treatment
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Infectious Diseases
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Diseases of the Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Diseases of the Digestive and Blood Systems
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Diseases of the Metabolic and Immune Systems
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Diseases of the Neural and Mental Systems
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Diseases of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Diseases of Surgery
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Obstetrics and Gynecology Diseases
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Pediatric Diseases
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for ENT Diseases
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Dermatological and Other Diseases
• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Healthcare

Readership: Medical professionals, both Western medical doctors and TCM practitioners, particularly those practicing in Australia, Europe and America; Chinese medicine educators, clinical and basic Chinese medicine researchers and health science students (particularly Chinese medicine students); herbalists, gerontology researchers, nutritionists, public health specialists (health policy departments in ministries of health and universities); professionals at the World Health Organization and affiliated institutions, and pharmaceutical companies; librarians of TCM professional associations and teaching institutes and the lay reader who either wants general knowledge or wishes to understand how TCM can help a friend, relative or loved one.

CHAPTER 1

Old Yet Young Chinese Acupuncture
and Moxibustion

The science of acupuncture and moxibustion is one of the most important contributions our ancestors have made to humankind. In a narrow sense, “acupuncture and moxibustion” refers to a medical therapy, and broadly speaking it is an integral science which consists of four subdisciplines: meridians and acupoints; acupuncture and moxibustion techniques; acupuncture and moxibustion therapy; experimental acupuncture and moxibustion.

LONG HISTORY

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy is believed to have originated as early as in the New Stone Age. The ancient literature indicates that moxibustion was employed earlier than acupuncture. The earliest needle was made of bian stone and was used mainly for incising an abscess, draining pus and letting blood out for therapeutic purposes.

From the Warring States Period to the Qin Dynasty and to the Western Han Dynasty, with the introduction and application of iron instruments, bian stone needles were replaced by metal medical needles. This broadened the field of acupuncture practice, bringing about the development of acupuncture by leaps and bounds. The book Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) — in particular its second part, Ling Shu (The Spiritual Pivot) — passed on to the present day is a medical classic based on medical practice with acupuncture and moxibustion as the main therapeutic techniques, and it laid a theoretical foundation for Chinese acupuncture.

From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty and to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, another generation and great development of acupuncture medicine occurred. For example, Huo Tuo in late Eastern Han selected only one or two points in acupuncture treatment and paid much notice to the propagation of the needling sensation. He was credited with the authorship of Zhen Zhong Jiu Ci Jing (Canon of Moxibustion and Acupuncture Preserved in a Pillow; lost). The outstanding doctor Zhang Zhong-jing presented 35 items about acupuncture and moxibustion in his book Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), putting forward his important viewpoints on prevention with acupuncture and moxibustion, acupuncture for yang syndromes and moxibustion for yin syndromes. Another famous doctor, Mi Huang-fu of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, compiled the book Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). It is the earliest exclusive and systematized book on acupuncture and moxibustion, and has been one of the most influential works in the history of acupuncture and moxibustion.

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the science of acupuncture and moxibustion underwent great development. The famous physician Zhen Quan and his contemporary Sun Si-miao both had a good command of the knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and made in-depth study of acupuncture and moxibustion. Sun Si-miao compiled Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang (Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergencies) and Qian Jin Yi Fang (Supplement to “Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces”), in which a great deal of clinical experience on acupuncture treatment of various schools was included. He also designed and made Ming Tang San Ren Tu (“Charts of Three Views”), in which the 12 regular meridians and the 8 extra meridians were illustrated in various colors. They are the earliest multicolored charts of meridians and points but have been lost. In addition, Wang Tao wrote the book Wai Tai Mi Yao (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library), in which a host of moxibustion methods of various schools were recorded. Acupuncture and moxibustion in the Tang Dynasty had already become a special branch of medicine, and those specializing in this field were called “acupuncturists” and “moxibustionists.” The Imperial Medical Bureau, responsible for medical education, was divided into four departments of medical specialties, and an acupuncture department was one of them.

In the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, the science of acupuncture and moxibustion underwent great development and summarization. The famous acupuncturist Wang Wei-yi wrote in 1206 a monograph about acupoints, Tong Ren Shu Xue Zhen Jiu Tu Jing (Illustrated Classic of Acupoints on the Bronze Figure), which was block-printed and published by the government. Under the support of the government, two bronze figures designed by him were manufactured, with the internal organs set inside and the meridians and points engraved on the surface for visual teaching and examination. The famous acupuncturist Wang Zhi-zhong of the Southern Song Dynasty wrote the book Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing (Classic of Nourishing Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion), in which he laid stress on practical experience (including folk experience), exerting a great influence on the later generations. The famous doctor Hua Shou of the Yuan Dynasty did textual research on the pathways of meridians and collaterals, as well as their relationship with acupuncture points. He wrote the book Shi Si Jing Fa Hui (An Elucidation on the Fourteen Channels), which further developed the theory of meridians and acupuncture points. In this period many other books were published, like Xiao Er Ming Tang Jiu Jing (Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Children’s Diseases), Bei Ji Jiu Fa (Moxibustion Techniques for Emergencies), Yong Ju Shen Mi Jiu Jing (The Secret of Moxibustion for Abscesses and Ulcers) and Zhen Jing Zhi Nan (Guide to the Classics of Acupuncture).

In the Ming Dynasty, acupuncture and moxibustion were worked up to a climax and many problems were studied more deeply and broadly. There were more famous doctors specializing in this field, such as Chen Hui of the early stage of the Ming Dynasty, Ling Yun of the middle stage and Yang Ji-zhou of the later stage. The main accomplishments in the Ming Dynasty were: (1) extensive collection and revision of the literature on acupuncture and moxibustion, e.g. Zhen Jiu Da Quan (The Complete Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) by Xu Feng, Zhen Jiu Ju Ying (A Collection of Gems in Acupuncture and Moxibustion) by Gao Wu, and Zhen Jiu Da Cheng (The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) by Yang Ji-zhou; (2) studies on the manipulating methods of acupuncture; on the basis of single manipulation of acupuncture, more than 20 kinds of compound manipulation were developed; (3) development of warm moxibustion with moxa sticks from burning moxibustion with moxa cones; (4) sorting out the previous records of acupuncture sites located away form the 14 meridians and forming a new category of extra points.

From the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, doctors regarded herbal medication as superior to acupuncture, and therefore acupuncture and moxibustion gradually turned into a failure. Some relatively important books about acupuncture and moxibustion are Zhen Jiu Ji Chen (The Integration of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) by Liao Hong-run; Yi Zong Jin Jian-Ci Jiu Xin Fa Yao Jue (The Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition: Essential Teachings on Acupuncture and Moxibustion), compiled by Wu Qian and his collaborators under an imperial order, and taking the practical form of rhymed verse with illustrations; and Zhen Jiu Feng Yuan (The Source of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) by Li Xue-chuan, which is the first book to systematically list the 361 points. In 1822, the authorities of the Qing Dynasty declared an order to abolish permanently the acupuncture–moxibustion department from the Imperial Medical College because “acupuncture and moxibustion are not suitable to be applied to the Emperor.”

MODERN DEVELOPMENT

In modern times, the science of acupuncture and moxibustion got its chance to spread among the folks. Many acupuncturists made unrelenting efforts to protect and develop this great medical legacy by founding acupuncture associations, publishing books and journals on acupuncture, and launching correspondence courses to teach acupuncture. Among those acupuncturists, Cheng Dan-an made a particular contribution. In this period, besides inheriting the traditional acupuncture and moxibustion, they made efforts to explain the theory of acupuncture and moxibustion with modern science and technology. In 1899, Liu Zhong-heng wrote a book entitled Zhong Xi Hui Can Tong Ren Tu Shuo (Illustration of the Bronze Figure with Chinese and Western Medicine), paving the way for studying acupuncture through combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the history of acupuncture. In 1934, The Technique and Principles of Electroacupuncture and the Study of Electroacupuncture, written by Tang Shi-cheng, started the use of electroacupuncture in China.

After the founding of New China, acupuncture and moxibustion were unprecedentedly popularized and promoted. Firstly, research and education institutes of acupuncture and moxibustion were set up all over the country. In 1951, the Experimental Institute of Acupuncture–Moxibustion Therapy, affiliated directly to the Ministry of Public Health, was set up. By 1992 there had been 8 research institutes on meridians in China, and 28 medical colleges out of 30 had founded departments of acupuncture and moxibustion. And, in 1986, the Beijing Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was set up. Many institutes and colleges of Western medicine have put that science on the teaching curriculum and taken it as a scientific research item.

To apply modern scientific knowledge to the research work on the basis of exploring and inheriting the traditional acupuncture and moxibustion is the prominent characteristic of the present research on acupuncture and moxibustion. In the 1950s, the main work was to systematize the basic theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, to observe its clinical indications, and to make a systematic exposition of acupuncture and moxibustion with modern methods. From the late 1950s to the 1960s, the following were carried out: extensive summarization of the clinical effect on various disease entities, propagation of acupuncture anesthesia in clinical use, and experimental researches. From the 1970s up to now, investigations have been made into the mechanism of acupuncture anesthesia and acupuncture analgesia from the viewpoints of operative surgery, anesthesiology, neuroanatomy, histochemistry and psychology, into the phenomena and nature of the meridians from the viewpoint of propagated acupuncture sensation and other angles, and into the relationship between acupuncture points and the needling sensation, between points and zang–fu organs. Now, the science of acupuncture and moxibustion is becoming a modern clinical medicine integrating prevention, treatments, rehabilitation and healthcare, from the previous single purpose of treatment.

In the sixth century, acupuncture and moxibustion were introduced to Japan and Korea, and in the 16^th century they began to be introduced to Europe. Now, with the increasing influence of acupuncture and moxibustion, the propagation to the world has been speeded up. In the 1950s, China gave assistance to the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries in training acupuncturists. Since 1975, at the request of the WHO, the International Acupuncture Training Courses have been run in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing, and acupuncturists have been trained for many countries. Up to now, more than 140 countries have had acupuncturists, and in some countries teaching and scientific research on acupuncture and moxibustion have been carried out with good results.

QUESTIONS

(1)  List the important books on acupuncture and moxibustion in past dynasties.

(2)  What were the main accomplishments in the Ming Dynasty in acupuncture and moxibustion?

CHAPTER 2

Meridians and Collaterals

The theory of meridians and collaterals, an important part of acupuncture and moxibustion, is the core of the basic theory of acupuncture and moxibustion and a great achievement made by ancient doctors. The meridians and collaterals are pathways in which the qi and blood of the human body are circulated. The meridians run longitudinally and interiorly with the body, while the collaterals run transversely and superficially from the meridians. They are collectively termed “jingluo” (“meridians and collaterals”) in traditional Chinese medicine. Records about jingluo were seen as early as in Meridians and Vessels, one of the silk scrolls in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The theory of meridians and collaterals is of great significance in guiding the clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, and is a research focus nowadays.

OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM OF MERIDIANS AND COLLATERALS

The system of meridians and collaterals is an integral system consisting of three parts: the main body, the inner part and the outer part. The main body has two categories: jingmai and huomai. Jingmai comprises the 12 meridians (or the 12 regular medians), the 12 divergent meridians and the 8 extra meridians. The 12 meridians are the major trunks of the system, including the 3 yin meridians of the hand (the meridian of hand–taiyin, the meridian of hand–shaoyin and the meridian of hand–jueying), the 3 yang meridians of the hand (the meridian of hand–taiyang, the meridian of hand–shaoyang and the meridian of hand–yangming), the 3 yin meridians of the foot (the meridian of foot–taiyin, the meridian of foot–shaoyin and the meridian of foot–jueying), and the 3 yang meridians of the foot (the meridian of foot–taiyang, the meridian of foot–shaoyang and the meridian of foot–yangming). The 12 divergent meridians are the main branches of the 12 regular medians in the chest, the abdomen and the head, and are the same as the 12 regular meridians which fit the hand and foot, including 3 yin and 3 yang divergent meridians. The 8 extra meridians, different from the 12 regular meridians, are called the extra meridians in short, including 8 meridians: the ren...