Fascia and defensive qi: construction of body view in classical acupuncture theory / 中国针灸

Influenced by the concept of "qi-void" in Taoist philosophy during the Qin and Han dynasties, the early acupuncture theory attaches the importance to the "fascial (muscular) interstices" distributed widely in the human body. The defensive qi runs through everywhere in these interstices that is easily invaded by the pathogenic wind and cold, and bi syndrome of jingjin (muscle region of meridian) is involved. Besides, fascial (muscular) interstices are the places for the delivery of relaxing needling and joint needling. Fascial tissue is a crucial structure to produce deqi, while, the function of defensive qi is tightly connected to the autonomic nerve in modern medicine, both of which actually belong to the different expressions of patients' body feeling. Medical scholars at early era, in reference with "fascia" and "defensive qi ", has summarized and refined their clinical practice experience. Thereby, the concepts of "arrival of qi " and "fascial (muscular) interstices" are extended, which constructs the peripheral framework of core concepts in acupuncture theoretic system, e.g. meridians and acupoints, and becomes an important component of the body view in classic acupuncture theory.

Etiology and Pathogenesis of Guizhitang Syndrome Based on ″Transformation in Accord with Constitution″ Theory / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the etiology and pathogenesis of Guizhitang syndrome， clarify the related suspicious cases debated by doctors in the past dynasties， and provide references for the clinical application of Guizhitang. MethodUnder the guidance of the "transformation in accord with constitution" theory， the etiology and pathogenesis of Guizhitang syndrome were analyzed by comparing the relevant articles in the classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage （Shanghanlun） and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber （Jingui Yaolue）. ResultGuizhitang syndrome not only refers to the greater yang wind-invasion syndrome. Instead， it can be divided into two categories， i.e.， exogenous Guizhitang syndrome and miscellaneous Guizhitang syndrome. The basic etiology of exogenous Guizhitang syndrome is internal blood deficiency or yin deficiency after severe diarrhea， which is the physical basis， namely the internal cause， while the wind is the external cause that results in cold. The basic etiology of miscellaneous Guizhitang syndrome is the deficiency of blood and body fluid without the external cause. The pathogenesis of Guizhitang syndrome is neither weak nutrient Qi and defensive qi nor strong nutrient Qi but weak defensive Qi. It attributes to weak nutrient qi and strong defensive qi or disorder of defensive Qi. The essence of the pathogenesis of Guizhitang syndrome is not ″exterior deficiency″ but ″deficiency of nutrient Qi″. ″Floating Yang and weak Yin″ does not refer to the pathogenesis， but the pulse. Yang refers to the Cun pulse and Yin refers to the Chi pulse. ConclusionThe etiology and pathogenesis of Guizhitang syndrome are controversial among ancient and modern doctors and textbooks. Many physicians annotate this problem but few pay attention to the constitution basis. According to the ″transformation in accord with constitution″ theory， the constitution is the internal basis for the formation of diseases and syndromes. The formation of Guizhitang syndrome is underpinned by the inherent constitution. ″Transformation in accord with constitution″ theory is helpful to understand the formation mechanism of Guizhitang syndrome. A new understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of Guizhitang syndrome based on the ″transformation in accord with constitution″ theory is helpful to reveal the use principle of Guizhitang by ZHANG Zhong-jing. The exploration of the formation mechanism of various syndromes of six-meridian diseases and miscellaneous diseases， as well as the original idea of ZHANG Zhong-jing's prescriptions from the ″transformation in accord with constitution″ theory can provide a new idea for the understanding of ZHANG Zhong-jing's theory.

Brief discussion on the characteristics of meridian sinew theory at the early era / 中国针灸

The characteristics of meridian sinew theory at the early era have been collected. It is believed that the running courses and indications of twelve meridian sinew regions in Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot) are closely associated with Zubi Shiyimai Jiujing (Moxibustion Therapy on the Eleven Meridians of Legs and Arms) and Yinyang Shiyimai Jiujing (Moxibustion Therapy on the Eleven Meridians of Yin and Yang). Due to the attachment of twelve regular meridians, the development of its own theory is blocked. Meridian sinew theory guides the diagnosis and treatment of many dominant disorders (e.g. pain disorder and bi syndrome) with acupuncture and moxibustion. The defensive qi is circulated among meridian sinews, which is the core of meridian sinew theory. The acupoint selection relies on the meridian sinew theory at the early era, such as "consolidating muscles when they involved in disorders, using painful sites as acupoints to treat diseases" "interaction of the associated muscles" and "conducting meridian qi along with the running courses of meridians". The crack needling (one of the nine needling techniques exerted between two muscles to treat muscular pain) is adopted generally to mobilize the defensive qi so as to resist pathogens, relieve the compression in foci and promote qi and blood circulation in meridians. The rational understanding of meridian sinew theory may improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of meridian sinew disorders, "reduce the pressure" on meridian theory and contribute to the enrichment of the theoretical framework of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Analysis on the defensive function of defensive / 中国针灸

The defensive function of defensive

Essence of defensive qi and its medical significance / 中华中医药杂志

In traditional Chinese medicine,medical practice is combined with qi,which forms special qi-theory.Body fluid which includes blood and Jin-ye is the fluid structure of human being.Nutrient qi and defensive qi depend on these two kinds of body fluid.Defensive qi not only maintains physiological functions of Jin-ye,but also participates pathomechanism such as Jin-ye consumption,retention,etc.The identity of defensive qi and Jin-ye plays an important role in theory and clinic.