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Acupuncture and moxibustion are an important invention of
the Chinese nation that originated as early as in the clan commune period of
the primitive society
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The theory of yin - yang is a conceptual framework, which
was used for observing and analyzing the material world in ancient China.
Yin and yang are a philosophical conceptualization, a means to generalize
the two opposite principles, which may be observed in all related phenomena
within the natural world. They may represent two separate phenomena with
opposing natures, as well as different and opposite aspects within the same
phenomenon
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The five elements refer to five categories in the natural
world, namely wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The theory of the five
elements holds that all phenomena in the universe correspond in nature
either to wood, fire, earth, metal or water, and that these are in a state
of constant motion and change. The law of movement of the five elements
mainly manifests in the following ways : interpromoting, interacting,
overacting, counteracting, and mutual interaction between mother and son
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Zang - fu is the general term for the organs of the human
body, and includes the six zang organs, the six fu organs and the
extraordinary fu organs. The heart, lung, spleen, liver, kidney and
pericardium are known as the six zang organs. The gallbladder, stomach,
small intestine, large intestine, bladder and sanjiao are known as the six
fu organs. The brain, marrow, bones, vessels, gallbladder and uterus are
known as the " extraordinary fu " organs
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The meridians and collaterals are pathways in which the qi
and blood of the human body are circulated. They pertain to the zang - fu
organs interiorly and extend over the body exteriorly, forming a network and
linking the tissues and organs into an organic whole. The meridians, which
constitute the main trunks, run longitude and interiorly within the body ;
while the collaterals, which represent branches of the meridians, run
transversely and superficially from the meridians. This system of meridians
and collaterals includes the twelve regular meridians, eight extra
meridians, fifteen collaterals, twelve divergent meridians, twelve muscle
regions and twelve cutaneous regions
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Acupoints are the specific sites through which the qi of
the zang - fu organs and meridians is transported to the body surface. The
Chinese characters for an acupoint mean respectively
" transportation " and " hole. " Acupoints fall into the
following three categories in terms of their evolution : Acupoints of the
fourteen meridians, Extraordinary Points, Ashi Points Specific points have
special theraputic properties : Five Shu Points, Lower He Sea Points of the
Six Fu Organs, Back Shu Points, Front Mu Points, Yuan, Luo Points, Eight
Confluent Points of the Extra Meridians, Eight Influential Points of the
Eight Tissues, Crossing Points etc.
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According to ancient Chinese thought qi did the
fundamental substance constitute the universe, and the changes and movement
of qi produced all phenomena. This viewpoint greatly influenced the theory
of traditional Chinese medicine. Generally speaking, the word " qi "
in traditional Chinese medicine denotes both the essential substances of the
human body, which maintain its vital activities, and the functional
activities of the zang - fu organs and tissues
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As the fundamental substances required in blood formation
originate from food essence produced by the spleen and stomach, these two
organs are regarded as the source of qi and blood. After being formed, blood
normally circulates in the vessels throughout the body, and is acted upon
jointly by the heart, liver and spleen. The heart dominates the blood and
vessels, and the propelling force of heart qi is the basis of blood
circulation. The spleen qi controls blood and prevent extravasation. The
liver promotes the free flow of qi, stores blood and regulates its volume
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Body fluid is a collective term for all the normal fluids
of the body. These are saliva, gastric juice, intestinal juice and the
liquids in the joint cavities, as well as tears, nasal discharge, sweat and
urine
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