MANIPULATION METHODS OF YING SUI BU XIE

Guo Mingsan

(Xi'an Hospital of TCM, Xi'an)

Strengthening the patients resistance to dispel the pathogenic factors is the core of the treatment. In order to get obvious effects in acupuncture treatment, the manipulation methods, a key point, must be exercised. Here is a brief account of Ying Sui Bu Xie:

1. Manipulation methods of Bu Xie with Ying and Sui

The earliest record of the term of 'Ying Sui Bu Xie" was found in the Chapter "Zhong Shi" of "Ling Shu": "the manipulation of Ying is used for Xie (reducing), and Siu for Bu (reinforcing). By doing so, Qi in the body can be rebalanced". There is no doubt in the explanation of the words of Bu and Xie, but there is quite a lot of understandings of Ying and Sui. Someone presumes that Ying signifies puncturing adverse to meridian course, and Sui implies puncturing along the meridian course. This, however, is erroneous, because the directions of meridians are unchangeable. In "Nei Jing", Ying and Sui are considered as the variable Qi circulating to and fro in meridians. Therefore "Deqi" (needling reaction) and "Qizhi" (appearance of needling sensation) were emphasised repeatedly by the ancient doctors. Qi is the vital energy in the body.

When a needle in inserted into the acupoint, a heavy and tight reaction of the needling is felt by the acupuncturist, gradually. This phenomenon is called "Lai" (appearing). As soon as the needling reaction appears, a method of manipulation is made, this sense is called "Ying". The phenomenon of disappearing of the needling reaction is called "Qu" (disappearing). At that moment, a manipulation method is used, this process is called "Sui".

2. Inserting needle slowly according to'Tu Chen Xu Shi''.

Needle must be inserted vertically and deepened slowly. The phenomenon that needling sensations produce near the body surface are called Fu (floating) in "Nei Iing." In "Nan Ting" it is also called Wei (Wei system), from which vital energy can be gained. When needle is inserted into the deep layer of the body in which a severe needling reaction cannot be felt by the patient, this is called Chen (Sink) in "Nei Jing while in "Nan Ting;* the region of needling reaction is called Ying (Ying system) from which the pathogenic factors would dispersed. Shi (excessiveness) means the feeling of heaviness and tightness in needling reactions, and Xu means the feeling of looseness and smoothness (deficiency).

Needling reactions which include six sensations (heaviness, hypoesthesia, distension, sourness, tension and numbness except the feeling of pain and electric (stroke) may be felt by patients, and needling reactions are felt by doctors which contain slowness, looseness, smoothness, tightness, and sinking are reflections of Xu (deficiency) and Shi (excessiveness).

3. The key point of Bu Xie in Ji Xu: If reinforcing the deficiency (Xu), the needle should be inserted slowly into the body from Wei system to Ying system. When the needling reactions appear but soon disappear, the needle should be deepened again and again, until the vital energy can be concentrated in the body, the needle should then be withdrawn rapidly. That is to say, deficiency (Xu) may turn normal condition by inserting the needle slowly (Xu) and withdrawing swiftly (Ji). In reducing the excessiveness (Shi), the needle should be inserted rapidly into Ying System. After the needling sensation is excited, the needle must be withdrawn slowly and the pathogenic factors would dispersed. That is to say, excessiveness (Shi) may turn to normal by inserting the needle swiftly (Ji) and withdrawing the needle slowly (Xu),

4. Success depends on warm and cooling sensations,

Reinforcing deficiency or reducing excessiveness, warm or cooling sensation should be produced over the needling site and the whole body of the patients. In "Nei Jing" it is recorded, warm sensation should be produced by using the manipulation methods of reinforcing (Bu), this is the result of filling the body with vital energy inside. The cooling sensation should be produced, by using the manipulating methods of reducing (Xie) which indicates the evil dispersed outside the body. Therefore, warm or cooling sensation is produced as a better way to determine if reinforcing (Bu) or reducing (Xie) is successful.