Hand Acupuncture Therapy

This book describes in detail the principles of hand acupuncture therapy, the location of the hand acupuncture points, hand observation diagnosis and the clinical application of hand acupuncture therapy for some common diseases. This book, dealing with an important branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, stresses the practical application of the subject.

PREFACE

As a treasure of traditional Chinese medicine, hand acupuncture is a physiotherapy to prevent and treat diseases. The hand reveals through changes of qi (vitality), color and outward appearance physiological and pathological disturbances in the body The same changes also reveal the cause and diagnosis of these diseases. Treatment for prevention or cure can then be applied b) stimulating certain acupuncture points or areas of the hand through acupuncture, massage or other therapies.

Hand acupuncture therapy consists of two procedures: Diagnosis, through observing the hand; and treatment, through applying acupuncture and massage. The clinical practice of observing the hand can be traced to the Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-256 BC) where it was called palmistry or the holographic diagram of Jiu Gong (nine divisions) and Ba Gua (eight trigrams). Diagnosis through observing the hand developed further in the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC-AD 220). The publication of the ancient medical classics such as The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine, Classic of Difficult Diseases and so on better defined and established the theories of Zangfu (internal organs) and Jingluo (meridians and collaterals). After that, observing the hand reached an even higher standard. Through this historical progression, hand acupuncture therapy developed into an important branch of traditional acupuncture.

Over the past 20 years following the establishment and development of the biological holographic principle and holographic embryo theory a diagnostic and therapeutic system developed for local acupuncture that combined the diagnostic diagram of the hand's qi, color and appearance with the holographic embryo of the hand. Therefore, hand acupuncture therapy became increasingly scientific, systematic and objective. It acquired modern biological significance as it developed along a modem theoretical basis.

This book follows the history of hand acupuncture therapy as it developed to relate theories about the therapy; names, locations and identifying marks of acupuncture points and areas; and basic information on diagnosis. Further, the book discusses eight therapeutic methods and extensive clinical experiences involved in the treatment of over one hundred common diseases.

In writing the book, the author reviewed a vast amount of medical reference works, and received cordial encouragement from many specialists and scholars to whom he would like to express his heart felt thanks. As for any errors that may appear perhaps inevitably in a work of this scope the author takes full responsibility and asks that diligent readers point them out so that they might be corrected in future editions.

Finally, the author hopes that this book will prove helpful to the many practitioners both at home and abroad of hand acupuncture therapy.

Qiao Jinlrn
September 1998