Guiding diagnosis and treatment
1.3.2. 1 Guiding the examination of acupoints
Under pathological conditions, meridians become the mutes to transmit pathogenic factors. Pathological changes of the viscera and meridians can be revealed by abnormal reactions along the routes along which the meridians run. So meridians are also helpful for diagnosing diseases, which is recorded in the chapter of Back-Shu acupoints in Lingshu ( Spiritual Pivot ). Currently, diagnosis is made by examining whether there appear tenderness, subcutaneous nodules, prominence and depression along the meridian routes or by pressing Shu-Stream, Front-Mu, Yuan-Source, Luo-Connecting and Xi-Cleft acupoints.
1.3. 2. 2 Guiding clinical syndrome differentiation
Clinically accurate diagnosis can be made in light of the symptoms and signs as well as the regions covered in cyclical flowing and the viscera connected with. In the Chapter of Ten(bytes of the Merklians in Lingshu ( Spiritual Pivot), the syndromes of the twelve meridians, fifteen collaterals and twelve tendons were recorded. The twelve meridians, the core of the meridian system, were summa-rized in terms of the disorders of the regions covered in their cyclical flowing and the diseases of the viscera asso-ciated with them. Such a record is known as "diseases caused by morbid changes of the meridians" and "the dis-eases included in the indication of the meridians", which can be used as the principle for syndrome differentiation. Besides, the distribution of the meridians is also helpful for syndrome differentiation of the viscera. Examples are stomachache and vomiting due to disharmony between the liver and stomach; cough due to invasion of liver fire into the lung; hernia due to cold retention in the liver meridi-an; red eyes due to hyperactivity of liver fire; and dizzi-ness and headache due to hyperactivity of liver yang.
These symptoms are all caused through the meridians and may appear simultaneously or one after another. Syn-drome differentiation with the eight principles, syndrome differentiation with the six meridians as well as syndrome differentiation of defensive qi, qi nutrient qi, and blood are all related to the doctrine of meridians in terms of their origin.
1.3. 2. 3 Guiding therapeutic methods
The doctrine of meridians is extensively applied to the treatment in all clinical specialties, especially to the clinical treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion. Such a guidance is well reflected in the location of acupoints which is done according to syndrome differentiation and the pertaining meridians as well as the distribution and cyclical flowing of the meridians. That is what "locating acupoints along the meridians " means. " Locating acupoints along the meridians" does not simply mean the cyclical flowing routes of the fourteen meridians. The meridian branches, collaterals and skin areas strengthen the relation between the meridians in external and internal relation as well as the three yin and three yang meridians with the same name and on the same side. Their distributing regions are larger than those of the twelve meridians. On the other hand, the eight extraordinary vessels run across the twelve meridians. Attention should also be paid to the crossing acupoints which are connected with several meridians. So the indication of a certain acupoint is complicated and multiple and should be analyze(
according to various relations. Only when the theory of meridians is thoroughly understood can accurate located or of acupoints be ensured. The guiding significance of the(doctrine of meridians is also reflected in the application of needling and moxibusting techniques. According to the idea of "interrelation between man and the nature", the ancient doctors established "midnight-noon ebb-flow" and "eight magic turtle methods" by associating the circulation of qi and blood in the meridians "with the nature". Besides, the idea of "guiding herbs" developed by attributing medicinal herbs to the meridians is significant in understanding the indication and action of the medicinal herbs.
1.3. 2 Guiding diagnosis and treatment
1.3.2. 1 Guiding the examination of acupoints
Under pathological conditions, meridians become the mutes to transmit pathogenic factors. Pathological changes of the viscera and meridians can be revealed by abnormal reactions along the routes along which the meridians run. So meridians are also helpful for diagnosing diseases, which is recorded in the chapter of Back-Shu acupoints in Lingshu ( Spiritual Pivot ). Currently, diagnosis is made by examining whether there appear tenderness, subcutaneous nodules, prominence and depression along the meridian routes or by pressing Shu-Stream, Front-Mu, Yuan-Source, Luo-Connecting and Xi-Cleft acupoints.
1.3. 2. 2 Guiding clinical syndrome differentiation
Clinically accurate diagnosis can be made in light of the symptoms and signs as well as the regions covered in cyclical flowing and the viscera connected with. In the Chapter of Ten(bytes of the Merklians in Lingshu ( Spiritual Pivot), the syndromes of the twelve meridians, fifteen collaterals and twelve tendons were recorded. The twelve meridians, the core of the meridian system, were summa-rized in terms of the disorders of the regions covered in their cyclical flowing and the diseases of the viscera asso-ciated with them. Such a record is known as "diseases caused by morbid changes of the meridians" and "the dis-eases included in the indication of the meridians", which can be used as the principle for syndrome differentiation. Besides, the distribution of the meridians is also helpful for syndrome differentiation of the viscera. Examples are stomachache and vomiting due to disharmony between the liver and stomach; cough due to invasion of liver fire into the lung; hernia due to cold retention in the liver meridi-an; red eyes due to hyperactivity of liver fire; and dizzi-ness and headache due to hyperactivity of liver yang.
These symptoms are all caused through the meridians and may appear simultaneously or one after another. Syn-drome differentiation with the eight principles, syndrome differentiation with the six meridians as well as syndrome differentiation of defensive qi, qi nutrient qi, and blood are all related to the doctrine of meridians in terms of their origin.
1.3. 2. 3 Guiding therapeutic methods
The doctrine of meridians is extensively applied to the treatment in all clinical specialties, especially to the clinical treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion. Such a guidance is well reflected in the location of acupoints which is done according to syndrome differentiation and the pertaining meridians as well as the distribution and cyclical flowing of the meridians. That is what "locating acupoints along the meridians " means. " Locating acupoints along the meridians" does not simply mean the cyclical flowing routes of the fourteen meridians. The meridian branches, collaterals and skin areas strengthen the relation between the meridians in external and internal relation as well as the three yin and three yang meridians with the same name and on the same side. Their distributing regions are larger than those of the twelve meridians. On the other hand, the eight extraordinary vessels run across the twelve meridians. Attention should also be paid to the crossing acupoints which are connected with several meridians. So the indication of a certain acupoint is complicated and multiple and should be analyze(according to various relations. Only when the theory of meridians is thoroughly understood can accurate located or of acupoints be ensured. The guiding significance of the(doctrine of meridians is also reflected in the application of needling and moxibusting techniques. According to the idea of "interrelation between man and the nature", the ancient doctors established "midnight-noon ebb-flow" and "eight magic turtle methods" by associating the circulation of qi and blood in the meridians "with the nature". Besides, the idea of "guiding herbs" developed by attributing medicinal herbs to the meridians is significant in understanding the indication and action of the medicinal herbs.
