Re-thinking the acupoint-visceral correlation: evidence from clinical literature and its biological mechanism

Abstract

The regularity of acupoint-viscera correlation is a basic problem in the study of acupuncture and moxibustion. At present, there are two main theories of the regularities: (1) the law of acupoint effect determined by meridian circulation; (2) segmental dominance of acupoint effect. These two regularities belong to different paradigm systems, they are not complementary relations within the same conceptual system. Based on the evidence of clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, combined with the research on biological mechanisms, this paper analyzed the objectivity and universality of the regularities of acupoint-visceral correlation. The law determined by meridian of acupoint effect does not manifests the universality guiding role in the clinical practice of modern acupuncture and moxibustion, which is obviously divorced from the needs of modern clinical practice. The segmental dominance of acupoint effect has been strongly supported by the clinical practice of modern acupuncture and moxibustion, which is highly consistent with the clinical practice. The regularity of acupoint effect needs to be tested and re-identified in practice.