Characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in Tibetan medicine based on Medical Canon in Four Sections

Abstract

By tracing to the origin of Tibetan medicine, it is known that Tibetan medicine absorbs a variety of medical ideas such as traditional Chinese medicine, Vedic medicine, Persian medicine and Byzantine medicine, and forms a unique theoretical system. The meridian-acupoint system and the characteristics and application of external therapies such as bloodletting and moxibustion in Tibetan medicine are analyzed by elaborating the relevant aspects of acupuncture and moxibustion involved in treatment of diseases listed in Medical Canon in Four Sections. The paper emphasizes the introduction of ironing moxibustion and huo'er moxibustion of fire moxibustion and the application of separation-action decoction and ghee therapy in bloodletting, as well as alternative therapy. Besides, by taking the external treatment of cirrhotic ascites and head trauma as an example, the idea of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in Tibetan medicine embodied in the Medical Canon in Four Sections is explained so as to benefit the development of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in Tibetan medicine.溯源藏医学发展由来，可知其吸收了中医学、吠陀医学、波斯医学、拜占庭医学等多种医学思想，形成独有的理论体系。通过撷取解析《四部医典•秘诀续》所列疾病中涉及针灸的相关内容，对藏医学脉穴体系以及放血、艾灸等外治疗法的特色与应用进行分析，重点介绍火灸法之烙灸、霍尔灸，放血中分离汤、油治法的应用以及交替疗法。同时，以水鼓痼疾、头部创伤所用外治法为例，说明《四部医典》所体现的藏医针灸疗法思路，以期对藏医学针灸疗法的发展有所裨益。.