MECHANISM OF OPENING CLOSING AND PIVOT ACTIVITY OF VITAL ENERGY

Xie Yonggang

(Langzhong County Hospital, Sichuan)

The theory of opening, closing and pivot activity (OCPA) of vital energy along meridian was first seen in "Neijing". It had been stated and practiced by many famous medical workers in ancient times. It is one of the theoretical bases of meridians. There were only a few papers on the point of the order and term of OCPA in the recent 50 years. The study of it seems to be necessary for guiding clinical practice.

OCPA is a kind of movement, but each direction and effect is different. "Opening" means upward and outward; "closing", downward and inside; "pivot" is in a key position between opening and closing; regulating and connecting the two opposite parts. OCPA represents the general law of the complex functional activity of the meridian system. If we know the theory better, we could get more therapeutic efficiency in acupuncture therapy.

The way of research on OCPA is not only to study its generality as a whole, but also to study its individuality.

The general character of OCPA: all meridians possess the function of OCPA. It is present from beginning to the end of all the Yin-Yang movements, and is also the motive force of the change of Yin-Yang. It connects one meridian to another and keeps balance and harmony with Yin-Yang.

Generally, connections between starting points and ending points of meridians may divide into two forms, one longitudinal is called Genjie or Biaoben, the other horizontal as a cycle called Qijie. Using Daimai (the belt meridian) as a model, according to my experience in this article, Gehuan, Jinghuan, Touhuan are added to constitute Qijie System, thus therapeutic effect may be better.

Personally, I Inquire into the classical theory on the mechanism of OCPA in three Yin meridians and three Yang meridians, and apply the principles of Taijitu and Bagua for combining the eight extra meridians with the regular meridians in clinical practice. According to the law of OCPA, it is proved that the activity of vital energy in the viscera of the upper and lower body is closely related.

This paper puts stress on the mechanism of pivot, because it is the most important part in the OCPA. Two parts are in the key position:

1. Activity of pivot constitutes a system, where three groups are included: Renshu and Dushu (Chongmai as the main part of it); Cheshu (Shaoyang as the main part); Zhong-shu (Xiaochan as the main part).

2. Pivot system in clinical practice: In this system the usual pathological phenomenon is hyperfunction or hypofunction, retrogression and blockade.

In clinical practice we should pay attention to:

1. Differentiate "Shengshu" and "Chengshu," consider both the brain and kidney. Treat hyperfunction or hypofunction in accordance with their special characteristics -

2. Control the direction of activity of pivot. Treat retrogression and blockade with special manipulations of acupuncture in a certain direction.

In this paper, it is pointed out that the related activity of opening and closing, the key position as a center and vital energy regulating are three main rules for the clinical practitioners in the use of the theory of OCPA. In the light of this theory, the specialities of skill are:

a) Acupuncture should be done in order of OCPA.

b) It is dependent on the direction of pivot activity to ascertain the acupoint.

c) Reinforcing or reducing is not dependent upon one needle, but rather upon a combined relationship of many needles.

This paper describes the theoretical part of OCPA. The purpose is to guide the clinical practice by this theory. This article is primarily a discussion on the personality and generality of OCPA, and to inquire the basical theory of acupuncture in accordance with the traditional Chinese medicine in guiding clinical practice by ancient Chinese philosophy.