Research on laws of effect of different acupuncture-moxibustion therapies based on data mining

Different acupuncture-moxibustion therapies can produce different clinical effects, that is, the effect has specificity, which is significantly important in obtaining acupuncture-moxibustion efficacy. In this study, the clinical application laws of fire needle, acupoint injection, catgut embedment, acupoint application, moxibustion therapy and filiform needle acupuncture were summarized in the aspects of category of disease, efficacy and related prescriptions （such as medication and acupoint selection） based on the result of data mining, and the general applicable categories of disease of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment methods were further screened, so as to guide the clinical application and give play to the best efficacy.

Determination of Temperature-time Curve of Two Mild Moxibustion Methods:Reinforcing and Reducing

Objective： To observe the specificity of reinforcing and reducing methods of mild moxibustion and explore its clinical significance. Methods： Thirty healthy students were selected and given reinforcing of mild moxibustion on the left Neiguan （PC 6） and reducing on the right Neiguan （PC 6） respectively. Temperature of the acupoint skin surface and the temperature-time curve were recorded by a digital thermometer. Results： In application of mild moxibustion on Neiguan （PC 6）, there was a statistical difference in the temperature-increase section between reinforcing and reducing methods （P〈0.01）. The temperature-increasing section of the temperature-time curve in the reducing method was obviously steeper than that in the reinforcing method. In the period of 0.5-3 min during moxibustion, the temperature of Neiguan （PC 6） was remarkably higher in the reducing than in the reinforcing （P〈0.01）. In the application of the reducing, the time for the temperature of Neiguan （PC 6） to increase to 40~C was remarkably advanced （P〈0.05） and the rate of burning pain in the subjects was remarkably higher in the reducing method than in the reinforcing method （P〈0.001）. Conclusion： In comparison with the reinforcing method, the acupoint temperature increased more quickly in the application of reducing method and can produce obvious hot stimulation in a short period of time. In the application of the reinforcing method, the acupoint temperature increased mildly and could enhance the tolerance of the organism to the high temperature.

Introduction to Prof. HUANG Xian-ming's Needling Techniques

In his over seventy-year practice of Chinese medicine, Prof. HUANG Xian-ming inherited plentiful academic experience from his father, Mr. HUANG Hong-fang and has a thorough understanding of the needling techniques described in Nei Jing （ Inner Canon ） and has developed his own school in the clinical treatment. Prof. HUANG believes that the manipulating skills of the needling techniques are the key to the therapeutic effects, and the needling techniques include the tonifying, reducing, warming, clarifying, ascending, descending, diminishing and opening skills. Among them, the tonifying technique is able to support the anti-pathogenic ability and get rid of deficiency, often used for diseases and patterns induced by insufficiency of qi and blood and low immunity. The reducing technique is used to reduce excessive symptoms and dissipate the pathogens, often used for pathogenic patterns of hyperactive pathogenic heat, qi stagnation and blood stasis, and muscular spasm and swelling.