ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION PHYSIOTHERAPY

Feng Runshen

(Inner Mongolia Institute of TCM and Mongolian Medicine, Huhehot)

In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion is a special science with a comparatively complete and systematic theory and with rich and distinct skill in treatment. As an acupuncturist, he must have a good command of the basic theory of the traditional Chinese medicine, and should master the indispensable knowledge and skill for acupuncture speciality. Through determination of treatment based on the differentiation of syndromes, he may give the patient a proper treatment according to the conditions of illness, and he may use not only the acupuncture and moxibustion but also the Chinese medicine in treatment. When doing so, he may achieve a good curative effect. Only in this way he may regarded as a qualified acupuncturist.

"The determination of treatment based on differentiation of syndrome is a principle that must be observed in clinical diagnoses and treatments, and it is also a technique that all doctors of the Chinese medicine should master. The theoretical basis of the acupuncture clinical treatment is that "Needling and medicine are based on the same theory" and "needling and medicine have similar effects."

There are many ways in treatment with the Chinese medicine, but they may be mainly divided into two categories - interior and exterior. From the point of view of the Chinese medicine, these two categories are different only in the form of treatment. The principle is the same. The interior treatment can cure not only visceral diseases but also skin-flesh-tendon-bone diseases; the exterior treatment in addition may also cure visceral diseases. The reason for this is that the effect of treatment is to put the body to the proper condition so as to make the body return to normal. The Chinese medicinal herbs, due to different quality and quantity and due to different time.for taking medicine, have different effects on the parts of the body, some having effects directly on pathological unit, some, through several transformations, having effects on the pathological unit at the end.

The effect by acupuncture treatment is achieved in ways and means different from that by Chinese medicinal herbs. But the meridians and collaterals belong to both internal organs and limbs, and they make up, in the human body, a harmonious control system with multi-grade, multi-function and multi-passage. If reinforcing or reducing is applied to some corresponding points on some passage in this system, there will be effective adjustments of the functions of all visceral organizations through the acts of meridians and collaterals. This adjustment may bring the innate ability of irritability of the body into full play, enhance the immunity of the body, improve metabolism, thus showing similar curative effects as that by Chinese medicinal herbs. This shows clearly the unity between acupuncture and moxibustion and other departments on the basic theory, the particularity in treatment and the identity in curative effects.

The principles of acupuncture and moxibustion treatments are the criteria for locating points. The principles are guided by the basic theories of the traditional Chinese medicine such as the state of the internal organs, meridian and collateral pathogenesis. The principles are also on the basis of differentiation of syndromes and the nature of the points, In actual practice, while there are unified principles in treatment, there are also flexible combinations and the ability of coping with changes. Thus, it shows that it is very scientific to "treat the same disease with different methods" and "treat the different diseases with the same method".

When we put into practice on the principle for the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, we should, in addition to paying attention to the correlations between reinforcing and reducing among viscera, lay stress on the application of reinforcing and reducing for each "Fa" (manipulation). Take Tiaohe Pi-Wei Fa for example, it consists of points Tianshu, Zusanii of the Stomach Meridian and point Gongsun of the Spleen Meridian. If we apply mild reinforcing and attenuating manipulations, a good result would be achieved, which would regulate the function between spleen and stomach. If we apply reinforcing method to the above three points, a good result would be achieved to the function of the upper abdominal cavity and strengthen the intestines to stop purging. If we apply reducing method, a good result of clearing away wetness-heat would be achieved. All these are very important contents and also show the direction in our research work in the future when we do the research work on "the principles for the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment and the specialities of the points".

The following are the ten frequently used methods in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.

1. Shugan Liqi Fa (disperse the depressed Jiver-Qi and rectify it.)

2. Qingxie Gandan Fa (clear away heat from liver-and gall bladder)

3. Yangxin Anshen Fa (tranquilize the mind by nourishing the heart)

4. Xiere Tonglin Fa )expel the heat-evil and promote diuresis)

5. Wenzhong lianpl Fa (warm the middle energize rand strengthen the spleen)

6. Buzhong Yiqi Fa (strengthen the middle energizer and benefit Qi)

7. Xuanfei Jiebiao Fa (open the inhibited lung-Qi and promote sweating to expel the exogenous evils from the body surface)

8. Qingchang Zhili Fa (clear the bowels to stop dysentery)

9. Wenbu Chenyang Fa (warm and recuperate kindey Yang)

10. Jiaotong Xinshen Fa (keep the kidney-water in balance)