Essentials of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Difficult and Debilitating Conditions: A Brief Explanation

Author: Gao Wu (Ming)
Editor-in-Chief: Hao En'en
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-09-01
Features:
Content Summary
This book is compiled based on the "Acupuncture Essentials" (Jiu Zhen Jie Yao), also known as "Essentials of Acupuncture and Difficulties" (Jiu Zhen Su Nan Yao Zhi), written by Gao Wu in the Ming Dynasty. It includes excerpts from the original texts of the "Lingshu," "Suwen," and "Nanjing," with necessary annotations and translations. It serves as a popular reading material on acupuncture medicine from the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" and the "Nanjing." The book is divided into 3 volumes, 131 sections, and over 300,000 words. While respecting the original "Acupuncture Essentials," it provides annotations and comparisons with the original texts of the "Inner Canon" and the "Nanjing." Each section includes punctuation, source identification, annotations, glossary, translations, and remarks, offering a relatively objective and comprehensive reflection of the theoretical system of acupuncture medicine in the "Inner Canon" and the "Nanjing," covering theory, methods, formulas, points, and techniques. This book can be used as a reference for acupuncture teaching, research, and clinical practice, and is also suitable for reference in various disciplines of traditional Chinese external treatment.
Excerpt:
The beginning of the universe: Heaven and earth refer to the natural world. Beginning, meaning the start of the generation of all things.
Nearby: The meaning of being close.
Heat retention: Refers to the stagnation of heat pathogens within the body.
Overcoming blood: Salt consumes blood; excessive consumption harms blood, so salt overcomes blood.
Loose skin pores: According to "Loosening and Raising," here it refers to loose skin pores.
Bian stone: Treating diseases with stone needles. Here, it refers to ancient acupuncture tools.
[Translation]
The Yellow Emperor asked: When doctors treat diseases, the same condition is treated with different methods, yet both achieve recovery. What is the reason for this?
Qi Bo replied: This is determined by geographical conditions. For example, the East is the place where all things in nature begin to grow. In such regions, fish and salt are abundant. The people living near the sea consume a lot of fish and have a preference for salty flavors, living in a place with abundant food. However, long-term consumption of fish can lead to heat retention within the body, while excessive salt consumption harms blood. As a result, the people in these areas are mostly dark-skinned with loose skin pores and are prone to diseases like carbuncles and sores. The treatment methods suitable for them are acupuncture with bian stone. Therefore, it is said that the method of treating diseases with bian stone originated from the East.