Proposal of translation of commonly-used acupuncture and moxibustion terminology by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

General Secretary Xi Jinping points out“traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is a treasure of the Chinese nation.We must pro-tect,explore,develop and inherit it well.”According tothe latest in-formation,1 TCM has spread to 196 countries and regions around the world,indicating that it enjoys a good development abroad,especially the development of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Bian Que,the founder of diagnostics of traditional Chinese medicine

Bian Que or Qin Yueren(ca 5th century B.C.)was a medical scientist with profound influence in the Warring States Period(475 BC-221 BC).There is argument about his native place,but it is generally acknowledged he came from Bohai Sea Mo County(present Renqiu County,Hebei Province).It is said that he was the author of Bian Que's Internal Classic(Bian Que Nei Jing)and Bian Que's External Classic(Bian Que Wai Jing).It is a pity they are all lost.

Effect of electroacupuncture at distal-proximal acupoint combinations on spinal interleukin-1 beta in a rat model of neuropathic pain

Objective:Pain from herniated disc is a common type of neuropathic pain.This study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at distal-proximal combinations of acupoints in the rat model of neuropathic pain modulates spinal interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) to induce acupuncture analgesia and possibly serve as a pain-relief modality for herniated disc.Methods:A rat model of neuropathic pain was established.Rats were randomly divided into normal,model,sham,EA 1,EA 2,and EA 3 groups.EA 1 rats were needled at bilateral ExB2,BL25,BL40,and BL60 acupoints.EA 2 rats Were needled at bilateral BL40 and BL60.EA 3 rats were needled at bilateral L5 Ex-B2 and BL25.EA stimulation was administered once daily over 7 days.Mechanical withdrawal threshold from noxious mechanical stimulation was measured 1 day preoperatively and at 3,5,and7 days postoperatively.After 7 days of intervention,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify IL-1β in the spinal cord.Results:Mechanical withdrawal threshold of rats in the model group decreased at 3 days postoperatively when compared with the normal group (P < 0.01),lasting 7 days postoperatively.Mechanical withdrawal thresholds in the EA 1,EA 2,and EA 3 groups were elevated over the model group (P < 0.05;P < 0.01).No obvious differences were found between EA 1,EA 2,and EA 3 groups.ELISA demonstrated an increase in IL-1β in the spinal cord of rats in the model group compared with the normal group (P < 0.01).EA treatment attenuated the increase in spinal IL-1β in the model group.Expression of spinal IL-1β was significantly lower in EA 1,EA 2,and EA 3 groups.Conclusion:EA at distal + proximal acupoints,distal points,as well as proximal points attenuated upregulation of spinal IL-1β,alleviated the extent of neuropathic pain hypersensitivity,and promoted mechanical withdrawal threshold,resulting in EA analgesia.

Chunyu Yi and his pioneer case records

Chunyu Yi(215 _(BC)-150 _(BC))once served as an official of granary in the Qi State.So he had a nickname of granary chief.His ancestral home was Linzi(present Linzi,Shandong Province).He was a celebrated practitioner of the Western Han Dynasty.His 25 case records,the extant earliest ones in China,were listed in The His-torical Records(Shi Ji).

Dong Feng,earliest ancestor of apricot grove(traditional Chinese medicine)

Dong Feng(courtesy name:Dong Junyi,2nd-3rd century)was from Houguan(present Min County,Fujian Province).1 He was an outstanding physician in the period of the Three Kingdoms(220e280).There were no records about him in authorized history,neither about his writings,so he seemed to be a legendary figure.According to Ge Gong,a famous Taoist,practitioner and alchemist,once Shi Xie,the prefecture governor of Jiaozhou,was critically ill in coma,all the physicians invited were at a loss what to do,and his family members happened to know Dong was travelling around Jiaozhou,and he was immediately invited to see the patient.

Xue Xue,a practitioner,well-versed in both polite letters and martial arts

Xue Xue(1681e1770,courtesy name:Xue Shengbai)also known as Yipiao,or Holy Man Huaiyun,was a native of Suzhou,Jiangsu Province.1 As a specialist of warm disease he was well-versed in both polite letters and martial arts,and he was the author of Systematic Differentiation of Dampness-heat Disorders(Shi Re Tiao Bian),Gist of Medical Theories(Yi Jing Yuan Zhi)and Xue Yipiao’s Case Records(Xue Yipiao Yi An),etc.

Wang Qingren and correction of errors in medical works

Wang Qingren(courtesy name:Wang Xunchen,1768e1831)was from Yutian County,Hebei Province.He was a distinguished physician and wrote the book Correction of Errors in Medical Works(Yi Lin Gai Cuo),in which many anatomical mistakes in ancient works were corrected,and it had far-reaching influence.Wang was born into an eminent family of intellectuals and he started learningmartial arts since childhood.He passed the imperial martial arts examination at county level on his youth,and then he got an official titlewith a donation.Upright and never stooping to flattery he was public spirited.In his hometown,there was a bridge over a river.For amassing wealth toll money was demanded by the local officials for passage.Wang strongly opposed it and took legal proceedings against them.The county magistrate failed to refute him。

Huangfu Mi,Great Master of Medicine and Literature

Huangfu Mi(215e282),courtesy name:Huangfu Shi-an,sobriquet in his old age:Xuan Yan,given name Jing in his childhood,was from Chaona,Anding(today’s Pingliang County,Gansu Province).He lived in the Jin Dynasties(265e316).Later,he moved to Xin’an(today’s Mianchi County,Henan Province)with his uncle.Born into a poor family,he had to do farm work in daytime and studied at night.After hard working for years,he integrated the intellectual achievements of hundreds of schools of thoughts,and eventually became a prestigious scholar himself.According to legend,Zuo Si,an unknown writer,spent 10 years to complete writing the prose of San Du Fu(Praiseworthy Three Cities),in which the three cities e Chendu,Jianye and Luoyang won applause for their prosperity.But he thought“the words of the lowly carry little weight”,so he went to ask Huangfu Mi to write a preface for him.After reading the prose,Huangfu Mi heaped praise upon him and willingly agreed.As expected,the prose gained a reputation far and wide.Scholars and noblemen were scrambling to make and circulate its copies at the capital,which caused paper in short supply and the price of paper was rising steadily.From above we can see Huangfu Mi’s great influence.

Qian Yi, Super Pediatrician

Qian Yi(1037e1119),also known as Qian Zhongyang,was from Qiantang(present Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province).But his great-grandfather settled down in Yunzhou(present Yunzhou,Dongping County,Shandong Province).Qian had immersed himself in medical study and was good at pediatrics.In long-term clinical practice,he had accumulated rich experience and became a renowned pediatrician.

Wang Weiyi, acupuncture expert of the Song Dynasty

Wang Weiyi,also known as Wang Weide(987e1067),a renowned acupuncture expert lived in the Song Dynasty(960e1279).As he was skilled in healing art and acupuncture,he served as an imperial physician for two emperors.In 1027 at the emperor’s order he forged two man-sized acupuncture bronze figure models,1 named Tian Shen Bronze Figure.It was in the shape of an upstanding young man about 170 cm tall with hair wrapped in a piece of cloth,looking smart and handsome.

Wei Yilin

Wei Yilin (courtesy name:Wei Dazhai,1277-1347 A.D.) was from Nanfeng (Jiangxi Province).As a distinguished physician skilled in traumatology,dentistry and laryngology,he had served as a professor of medicine in a medical school set up by the local authority.He was the author of the Effective Formulas Tested by Physicians for Generations (Shi Yi De Xiao Fang),in which he recorded the chief achievements in orthopedics before the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368),and it is also one of the high-level orthopedic works of ancient China.

Wang Tao, a distinguished scholar in medical classic systematization

Wang Tao (circa 690-756) was from today's Mei County,Shaanxi Province in the Tang Dynasty,and born into an official family.His father,grandfather and brothers served the imperial government for many years and he himself was put in charge of the imperial library for about 20 years.He compiled the Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library (Wài Tái Mì Yào),a well-known miscellaneous medical masterpiece,which has been honored with a 'treasure handed down from ancient times'.

Ye Gui and Treatise on Warm-heat Diseases

Ye Gui (courtesy name:Ye Tianshi,assumed name:Ye Xiangyan 1667-1746),a celebrated physician of the Qing Dynasty was from Wu County,Jiangsu province.Born into a TCM family and nurtured by his family tradition,he read many medical classics like Huangdi's Canon of Medicine (Huang Di Nei Jing),Classic of Difficulties (Nan Jing),etc.,which laid a solid foundation for his future medical career.He was naturally bright and talented so he was good at drawing analogies.Although his medical attainments outdid his teachers,he did not become complacent.He was modest and eager to learn,so when he met any medical expert he would listen to advice with an open mind.He chose to learn from 17 super physicians,which became a favorite topic among the medical cycles.1 Since he discovered and made use of the strong points of all others and gained a thorough understanding,he advanced by leaps and bounds and his fame skyrocketed.Eventually he became a very influential medical expert.

Zhu Zhenheng, Founder of the School of Yin Nourishing

Zhu Zhenheng (courtesy name:Zhu Yanxiu,1281-1358) was from Yiwu County,Zhejiang Province.His family lived near a river named Dan Xi for many generations,hence his sobriquet Old Man Dan Xi,or Mr Dan Xi.Since he was intelligent,diligent and eager to learn,he traveled around to visit literary celebrities with the expectation to pass the imperial examination and seek an official position.When he was 36 years old,he heard that Xu Qian,a famous scholar of the Neo-Confucianism came to give lectures in Dongyang County,Zhejiang Province,he soon rushed there to learn from him.1 He kept on study for years and made great progress.But he suffered a reversal of fortune and failed the imperial examinations.At this moment,Xu Qian was badly ill and completely bedridden.One day,when Zhu went to visit him,he said:'I have been ill for a long time,and only those who are skillful in medicine can save me.