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Ziwu Liuzhu is one of the most distinctive theories of traditional Chinese medicine. It was proposed in the "Huangdi Neijing" more than 2,000 years ago and has a long history. The Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture method sprouted in the Qin and Han Dynasties, was formed in the Song and Jin Dynasties, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, and was revived in modern times. Its method uses simple acupoints and has remarkable curative effects, and is widely used in clinical acupuncture practice.

"Ziwu" is two corresponding nouns, mainly referring to time, and is one of the twelve earthly branches. Midnight (23:00-1:00) is Zi hour; noon (11:00-13:00) is Noon hour. Within a year, Zi is the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, starting from the winter solstice; Wu is the fifth month of the lunar calendar, starting from the summer solstice. The process of meridian replacement is the process of producing yang for the cathode and yin for the yang pole.

"Liu Zhu" represents the process of Qi and blood circulation in the human body, just like the water flow in nature, circulating in the twelve meridians from Zi to Wu, and from Wu to Zi. As time changes, there will be periodic changes in ups and downs, resulting in opening and closing – when the qi and blood of the meridians are abundant, they are open, and when they are lost, the qi and blood of the meridians are declining and they are closed.

Understand the Ziwu Liuzhu method of opening acupuncture points

Ziwu Liuzhu acupoint opening method is a unique acupuncture method that selects acupoints on time along the meridians based on the order of qi and blood flow through the body's meridians, combined with the theories of yin and yang, five elements, heavenly stems, and earthly branches, based on time conditions.

Its theory is derived from concepts and principles such as "correspondence between heaven and man", "qi and blood flow on time", "adapting measures to the time" and "five losing points" in the "Huangdi Neijing", which laid the foundation for the formation of Ziwu Liuzhu. The specific application of the theory in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. The acupoints used are Wushu acupoints and Yuan acupoints of the twelve meridians. When using, you can choose to open acupoints immediately or at regular intervals, and you can also choose corresponding acupoints according to needs.

The thought of correspondence between heaven and man is the origin of Ziwu Liuzhu Acupuncture

As the year, month, day, and time change, the human body also exhibits different physiological laws and pathological changes. The predecessors recognized the impact of time changes on the human body and combined time with acupuncture, gradually forming the Ziwu Liuzhu theory.

The theory of Yin Yang and Five Elements is the theoretical framework of Ziwu Liuzhu method of opening acupuncture points.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses the theory of yin and yang and the five elements to explain the influence and connection between the internal organs. The Ziwu flow acupuncture method opens acupuncture points according to the relationship and changing patterns of yin and yang and the five elements, becoming an important tool for contacting time, internal organs and acupoints.

Adjusting measures to current conditions is the guiding principle of Ziwu Liuzhu

Ziwu Liuzhu method of opening acupuncture points is the embodiment of the idea of ​​correspondence between heaven and man in the treatment principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasizes that when using medicine or acupuncture treatment, treatment should be in accordance with the weather.

The qi and blood in the twelve meridians have different flow rhythms of ups and downs at different times. According to the rise and fall of qi and blood, grasping the most appropriate time to perform acupuncture is called "timely", which is an important principle of acupuncture treatment.

Acupoints and methods for applying Ziwu Flow Infusion

1. Apply acupoints

The acupoints used for Ziwu Liuzhu are the sum of Wushu acupoint and Yuan acupoint, a total of sixty-six acupoints.

The Wushu acupoints are five specific acupoints distributed by the twelve meridians below the elbow and knee joints. They are arranged from the ends of the limbs to the elbow and knee. They are: Jing, Ying, Shu, Jing, and He.

Wushu point

The original points are the acupoints through which the original Qi of the internal organs is infused, passes through and ends in the limbs of the twelve meridians. The original point of the Yin meridian is the Shu point among the five Shu points of this meridian; the Yang meridian has another original point besides the Shu point.

Original point

2. Application method:

▶ Instant acupoint opening

Also known as opening acupoints at the right time, it refers to opening acupoints based on the patient’s time of treatment. Immediate acupoint opening takes time as the only condition for acupoint selection, which inevitably ignores syndrome differentiation, disease differentiation and the specificity of acupoints. Timing acupoint opening makes up for one of the shortcomings.

▶ Open acupuncture points regularly

Also known as time-selected acupoint opening, it is to judge the acupoints that should be selected based on the patient's symptoms, and to make an appointment for the patient based on the acupoint opening time corresponding to a certain acupoint opening method. This method takes into account syndrome differentiation, disease differentiation and the specificity of acupoints, and is suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases.

Select matching points

The Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture method has few acupoints to choose. On the basis of calculating the acupoints (at the right time or at the right time), the appropriate acupoints can be selected according to different symptoms:

(1) According to the acupoint allocation theory: such as the acupoint allocation method for the main meridian, the acupoint allocation method for the external and internal meridian, the front and rear acupoint allocation method, etc.;

(2) According to the location of the disease: select the acupoints at the painful area or adjacent areas.

▶ Extrapolation method

The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches were first used in the calendar. There are ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches. The heavenly stems and earthly branches are arranged in order to form a sixty circle. The heavenly stems and earthly branches divide yin and yang equally, with odd numbers as yang and even numbers as yin, which are then matched with the division of the five elements. According to the circumference of the stems and branches and the five elements of yin and yang, the twelve meridians are combined, which are the Najia method and the Nazi method.

The calculation of stems and branches is one of the important steps in the acupoint opening of Ziwu Liuzhu. When calculating, you should pay attention to the year, month and day. Different calendars are used, including the calculation of yearly stems and branches, the calculation of monthly stems and branches, the calculation of daily stems and branches, and the calculation of hourly stems and branches. The Ziwu Liuzhu acupoint opening method includes the Najia method and the Nazi method, which are two methods of selecting acupoints on time according to the heavenly stems and earthly branches of the twelve meridians of qi and blood infusion respectively, and can be flexibly selected according to actual clinical needs.

Najia method: Heavenly stems match the twelve meridians, which is one of the foundations of Najia method of Ziwu Liuzhu. It is also called Nagan method and Rigan Ziwuliuzhu. It is a method of opening acupuncture points on time according to the daily qi and blood infusion of the twelve meridians. When using it, first calculate the day and hour stems and branches of the patient's visit, and then prescribe them in sequence according to the law of the five elements' mutual production of Wushu points.

The Twelve Sutras of Natiangange

A, gallbladder, B, hepatitis C, small intestine, Ding Xinwu, stomach and spleen,

Geng belongs to large intestine, Xin belongs to lung, Ren belongs to bladder and kidney.

Sanjiao was also sent to Renzhong, and Baoluo was also transferred to Guifang.

Basic acupuncture rules of Najia method

1. Yang enters and Yin retreats to open the well point;

2. When the day is yang, the points on the yang meridian are opened, when the day is yin, the points on the yin meridian are opened, and the meridians and acupuncture points are generated;

3. Every time you lose, you lose;

4. When the sun stem reappears, the qi will absorb the triple energizer and the blood will return to the envelope.

Nazi method: The earth governs the twelve meridians, which is one of the foundations of the Ziwu Liuzhu method. It is also called the Nazhi method and the time branch Ziwuliu Zhu method. According to the daily qi and blood infusion of the twelve meridians, the method of selecting acupoints according to the deficiency and excess of the disease is based on the mutual production of mother and child at the five earthly branch and hour points of the twelve meridians.

Twelve Sutras and Songs of the Earthly Branches

Fei Yin Damao Wei Chen Palace, the spleen is in the middle of the day and the heart is in the middle of the afternoon.

Shen Xiyou treats kidney and pericardium, and Haijiaozi treats bile and ugly liver.

Nazi method to open acupuncture points:

1. The acupoint selection method of this meridian to nourish the mother and purge the son;

2. Acupoint selection method for nourishing the mother and purging the submerged meridians;

3. Take sixty-six acupoints a day;

4. Select acupoints along the meridians on time.

▶ Filiform acupuncture

It is the basic operation method of Meridian flow acupuncture. Before the operation, it is necessary to select a suitable needle, a comfortable body position, and disinfect it. During the operation, the appropriate needle insertion method, acupuncture angle and direction must be selected according to the actual situation. Acupuncture technique, needle retention time and needle removal method, correct prevention and treatment of common acupuncture abnormalities, and pay attention to the precautions and contraindications during operation.

Needle selection: Different specifications of filiform needles should be selected according to the patient's constitution, age, condition and location of the acupoints.

Position selection: The selection of the patient's position during acupuncture should be based on the principle that the surgeon can correctly select acupoints, facilitate the operation, and the patient feels comfortable while retaining the needle. Commonly used positions include lying and sitting.

Disinfection: Strictly disinfect needles, contact objects and the surgeon’s fingers.

Common acupuncture abnormalities include: needle fainting, needle stasis, needle bending, needle breakage, bleeding and subcutaneous edema, which should be actively prevented and handled correctly.

Taboo:

(1) People who are hungry, full, drunk, angry, frightened, tired, or nervous are not suitable for filiform acupuncture treatment;

(2) For those with weak constitution and deficiency of qi and blood, the needle sensation should not be too strong, and acupuncture treatment should be performed in the supine position to avoid needle fainting;

(3) Where important organs are located, such as the ribs, back, kidney area, and liver area, it is not advisable to stab directly or deeply;

(4) If acupuncture is needed at acupuncture points along the course of large blood vessels and subcutaneous veins, the blood vessels should be avoided and the acupuncture points should be inserted diagonally into the acupoints;

(5) Acupuncture on the top of the head is prohibited in children when the fontanel is open;

(6) Pregnant women’s lower abdomen, lumbosacral area, perineum and acupuncture points that will produce a strong needle sensation or are sensitive to pregnancy reactions (such as Hegu, Zusanli, Fengchi, Huantiao, Sanyinjiao, Xuehai, to Yin, etc.), acupuncture is prohibited;

(7) People suffering from severe allergies, infectious skin diseases, skin ulcers, and skin tumors should not directly acupuncture the affected area;

(8) Patients with coagulation mechanism disorders are prohibited from acupuncture;

(9) For children, tetanus, epileptic seizures, manic schizophrenia, etc., it is not advisable to leave the needle during acupuncture.