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Bih-Cheng Chen1* Ting-Yu Huang1
1School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Acupuncture is one of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind which has been proved for its clinical effectiveness. In 2008, World Health Organization (WHO) had stipulated a standardized system of meridians and acupuncture points that can be used universally. This system has provided a precise standard on the acupuncture point locations (2-dimentional), the respective meridians and the related anatomical structures. These achievements are also reflected in the many current textbooks to provide explicit teaching materials of the meridians and acupuncture points for the new learners. In addition, it has provided an effective communication internationally among the Chinese Medicine Practitioners. However, the 2D illustrations are insufficient to provide a complete information of acupuncture point locations. In this study, we explore the pros and cons of the standardization of the acupuncture point locations and the possible future improvement through literature review. We have discovered that historically, the related literatures on acupuncture points location not only recorded the 2D illustrations. The early acupuncture publications such as Zhen jiu jia yi jing [The Systematized Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion] and Zhen jiu da cheng [The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion] had also recorded detailed information eg the needling depth, the arrangement of the patient’s posture before the treatment etc. In Ming Dynasty, the physician Gao Wu had also observed the difference in the acupuncture point locations among the male, female and children. Hence, he had cast three acupuncture bronze models to illustrate the acupuncture point locations as a reference. In addition, one acupuncture point may not just belong to one meridian, it can also be a “Meridian Hui-meeting point” which belongs to multiple meridians. These considerations have clearly shown how acupuncture point locations can be more accurately defined. All in all, ancient literature points to four directions along which standardization could be refined: 1. To re-examine which meridian each acupuncture point belongs to; 2. Addition of the depth of acupuncture points; 3. Consideration of the patient’s posture and action while locating acupuncture points; 4. Differences between the sexes andage while locating acupuncture points.
Keywords：Acupuncture, Zhen-jiu-jia-yi-jing, (The Systematized Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) WHO, Acupuncture Point Locations Standardization
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211.12 WHO 针灸经穴定位国际标准化之反思
