Acupuncture and Needle-Stimulation, Differences in Concepts and Methods

Lei Li, To Yau, Chuen Heung Yau

School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

DOI: 10.4236/cm.2012.31004                

Abstract

Based on related elaboration of the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, this article analyzed and summarized the clinical meaning, application principles and the basic operating methods of Traditional Acupuncture (TA), and demonstrated that the TA is completely different to modern needle stimulation. TA has a specific application background, direct-viewing thinking mode and clear operational connotation. The key of operation in TA is how to grasp and control Qi, which typically reflect the unique image of the Chinese civilization with intuitive perceptual characteristics of thinking. In contrast, modern needle-stimulation uses needles as a stimulus, to activate a series of physical and functional reactions in a body. There have great differences between the two. It was indicated that correctly understanding with the basic principle and specific meaning of TA is very important in acupuncture clinical and research works.

Keywords

Traditional Acupuncture (TA) Therapy; Needle-Stimulation; Qi

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	“The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine: Plain Con-versation (copied print),” People’s Health Publishing House, Beijing, 1956.
[2]	“The Spiritual Pivot (copied print),” People’s Health Pub-lishing House, Beijing, 1956.