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The general principles of treatment are worked out under the guidance of the holistic concept and differentiation of syndromes. The general principles are of universal significance in decision of the treating methods and prescriptions.

 

Regulation of Yin and Yang

The occurrence of any diseases is, fundamentally speaking, due to the relative imbalance of yin and yang. Namely, the normal inter - consuming - supporting relationship between them is disturbed by either preponderance or discomfiture of yin and yang. Regulation of yin and yang is therefore a fundamental principle in clinical treatment. In the fifth chapter of Miraculous Pivot, it points out that " how to regulate yin and yang is most important in acupuncture treatment. "

Yang in excess makes yin suffer and yin in excess makes yang suffer. Excessive heat ( yang ) is likely to injure yin essence, while excessive cold ( yin ) is likely to damage yang qi. In treatment, reduce excessive heat or expel cold through the methods of " removing the excess " and " reducing the preponderance. " On regulating the preponderance of yin or yang, attention should be paid to the condition whether a corresponding yin or yang deficiency exists. If one is deficient, consideration should be given to both yang reduction and yin reinforcement, dispelling cold and warming yang simultaneously.
Yin in deficiency fails to control yang, manifested by deficiency heat syndrome and yang hyperactivity due to yin deficiency. Yang in deficiency fails to control yin, as shown in deficiency cold syndrome and excess of yin due to yang deficiency. In the fifth chapter of Plain Questions, it says, " Treat yin for yang problems and treat yang for yin problems, " indicating that hyperactivity of yang due to yin deficiency should be treated by strengthening yin to control yang, while cold ( yin ) due to yang deficiency should be treated by reinforcing yang to control yin. If they are both deficient, yin and yang should be reinforced. In treating diseases marked by yin or yang deficiency, try to achieve yang from yin and achieve yin from yang, because they are interdependent. For example, the Front - Mu Points and Back - Shu Points are used respectively to regulate and replenish yin qi and yang qi of the zang - fu organs.

Yin and yang are considered the general principle for differentiation of syndromes, " relieving deficiency by the tonifying method, reducing excess, dispelling cold by the warming method, nutrient and defensive qi regulation, and qi and blood promotion " all fall into the aspect of regulation of yin and yang. Acupuncture therapy is to apply different techniques of manipulations to points to treat diseases by means of regulating yin and yang.

Strengthening the Body Resistance and Eliminating the Pathogenic Factors

The course of a disease is actually the process of struggle between the antipathogenic factors and pathogenic factors. Mobilizing the antipathogenic factors to defeat the pathogenic factors is the right way to cure the disease. Therefore, strengthening the body resistance and eliminating the pathogenic factors are also the important principles in clinical treatment. To strengthen the body resistance is to reinforce the antipathogenic qi and build up health. Once the body resistance against disease is strengthened, the pathogenic factors are eliminated. Once the pathogenic factors are removed, the body resistance will be reinforced. Since they are closely related to each other, strengthening the body resistance is beneficial to dispelling the pathogenic factors and vice versa.

Clinically, the condition of the pathogenic factors and antipathogenic factors should be carefully observed, upon which, strengthening the body resistance first or dispelling the pathogenic factors first can be determined. For patients with weak body resistance but pathogenic factors not yet strong enough, the body resistance is strengthened first. For patients with excessive pathogenic factors but body resistance not yet damaged, the prime task is to eliminate the pathogenic factors. But for patients with weak body resistance and excessive pathogenic factors as well, both methods should be employed simultaneously. Try to distinguish what is primary from what is secondary. For those with weak body resistance priority should be placed on building body resistance and do something to get rid of the pathogenic factors, and vice versa. When the patient is in a relatively critical condition attacked by excessive pathogenic factors, and the body resistance is too weak, for which the pathogenic factors are not eliminated, strengthen the body resistance first and then remove the pathogenic factors. If the patient is in a very poor condition with excessive pathogenic factors, but with weak body resistance, eliminate the pathogenic factors first, and then strengthen the body resistance.

Distinguishing the Primary from the Secondary

The conception of the primary and the secondary are relative to each other involving different meanings. In terms of the antipathogenic factors and pathogenic factors, the former is the primary, and the latter is the secondary. Judged by the etiology and manifestation, the etiology is the primary, and the manifestation is the secondary. As to the localization of a lesion, the internal portion is the primary, and the external is the secondary. As for the clinical course of a disease the original is the primary, while the complication is the secondary. This concept represents the two opposite aspects of one entity during the course of a disease. The symptom is generally the phenomenon and the secondary aspect, the root cause is generally the nature and the primary aspect. Clinically, a disease should be assessed according to such different situations of the primary, the secondary, the root cause, the symptoms, the acute, and the chronic so as to ascertain the main aspect of the contradictions, and thus treated accordingly. Under general circumstances, the primary or root cause should be found First, but if the symptoms are acute, they should be treated first. If the symptoms and root cause are both serious, they should be taken into account at the same time.

Trying to find out the primary or root cause is of importance. In clinic, the nature and the primary aspect of a disease should be well commanded so as to treat the root cause. Some diseases, although their symptoms are different, the etiology and pathogenesis are the same, so they can be treated by the same method. For example, in case of sore throat due to yin deficiency of the kidney and low back pain due to yin deficiency of the kidney, the treatment to nourish the kidney yin is adopted. This is called " treating different diseases with the same method. " For some other diseases, although their symptoms are alike, the etiology and pathogenesis are different, different methods therefore should be used to treat the root cause. For instance, headache due to liver yang hyperactivity should be treated by nourishing yin to reduce yang. but headache caused by both qi and blood deficiency should be treated by reinforcing qi and blood. However headache caused by invasion of the meridians by wind cold must be treated by diminishing wind cold. This is called " treating the same disease with different methods. "

Under certain circumstances, the symptoms are very critical, if not treated immediately, they shall affect the treatment of the root cause or perhaps cause death, in this case it is - necessary to observe the principle of " treating the symptoms First when they are acute, and treating the root cause when these symptoms are relieved. " For example, a patient with chronic cough and asthma caught a common cold, accompanied with fever and aversion to cold, common cold should be treated first because it is the acute aspect. After the common cold is relieved, treat chronic cough and asthma which are the primary aspect. But if the primary and secondary aspects are both serious, they must be treated at the same time.

Prevention

is also an important aspect in treating the primary aspect. It includes prevention before the attack of a disease and prevention from deterioration after occurrence of a disease. China has long rich experience in health care, such as Qigong, Taiji, Baduanjin, etc. Acupuncture and moxibustion is also one of the traditional remedies to prevent diseases. Zusanii ( S 36 ) , for example, is an important tonifying point. Moxibustion to it is not only good for preserving health, but also good for preventing many kinds of diseases. Importance is attached to early diagnosis and treatment of disease for fear of its negative development. During the prevention and treatment of diseases, doctors are requested to know the laws of their occurrence and development and the ways of their transmission. It is recorded in Treatise On Febrile Disease, " If the illness is going to invade other meridians, needle Foot - Yangming Meridian to stop the development. " The importance of preventing diseases from transmission is clearly stated here.

Treatment of Diseases According to Climatic and Seasonal Conditions, Geographical Locations and the Individual Condition

The climatic and seasonal conditions, geographical locations, patient ' s age, constitution and others must be taken into consideration to determine an appropriate method in acupuncture treatment

Climatic and seasonal conditions. In accordance with the characteristics of climate and seasons, appropriate therapeutic methods are used. It is said in Chapter 9 of Miraculous Pivot, " In spring, the pathogenic factors are most likely to attack the superficial layer ; in summer, they are most likely to attack the skin ; in autumn, they are most likely to attack the muscles ; and in winter, they are most likely to attack the tendons and bones. In treatment of such disorders, the techniques should remain consistent with the seasons. " Generally, in spring and summer, shallow acupuncture is applied, and in autumn and winter, the deep acupuncture is preferred. In addition, the acupuncture time is also important. For instance, treatment of malaria is usually applied two to three hours before its attack, and dysmenorrhea is usually treated before the menstrual periods
Geographical locations. The appropriate therapeutic methods should be determined according to different geographical locations. Climate and life style vary in different regions, so do the physiological activities and pathological changes, therefore, the methods of treatment should be different. In Chapter 12 of Plain Questions it says, " In the north.. .people live in highlands and mountains exposed to bitter wind and severe cold. People there prefer outdoor dwelling and milk, that ' s why they are susceptible to gastric distention due to accumulation of cold for which moxibustion is advisable. " " In the south...it is damp, foggy and dewy, people there prefer to sour taste and preserved food, so they have tight muscles and red skin. People in this region are susceptible to cramps of tendons and rheumatism, for which acupuncture is advisable. " The above shows that therapeutic methods are closely related to geographical locations, life style and nature of diseases
Individual conditions. Treatment is also based on age, sex and constitution. For example, men and women are different in physiology, women have menstruation, pregnancy and puerperal problems, so the points should be carefully selected when treatment is given. People of different ages are different in physiology and pathology. As to constitution, there are strong, weak, more heat, more cold. Besides, the sensitivity to acupuncture varies individually. In the Chapter 38 of Miraculous Pivot, it says, " A middle - aged strong person with sufficient qi and blood, and hard skin may, if being attacked by the pathogenic factors, be treated by a deep needling with the needle retained for some time. " It says again, " Since an infant has weak muscles and less volume of blood and qi, acupuncture treatment is given twice a day with shallow needling and weak stimulation. " It is further pointed out in Chapter 5 of Miraculous Pivot that " a deep needling with the needle retained for some time should be applied to physical laborers, whereas, slow insertion of the needle should be given to mental workers. "

Theraputic methods

Reinforcing

Reducing

Warming

Clearing

Ascending

Descending

Prescription

Number of points in a prescription

Nearby points

Distant points

Symptomatic points

Specific points

The Five Shu Points

The Lower He Sea Points of the Six Fu Organs

The Combination of the Back Shu Points and the Front Mu Points

The Combination of the Yuan and Luo Points

Eight Confluent Points

The Eight Influential Points

The Crossing Points

Support for therapy

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