Interpretation of acupoint location in traditional Chinese medicine teaching: Implications for acupuncture in research and clinical practice

Author: Yi Zhang1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Conference/Journal: Anat Rec (Hoboken)
Date published: 2021 Mar 19
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/ar.24618. , Word Count: 168


Acupuncture is a therapeutic intervention of traditional Chinese medicine, characterized by the insertion of a fine metal needle through the human body's skin at an acupuncture point (acupoint). Acupuncture has become from cultural curiosity to fast-growing complementary and alternative medicine therapy worldwide, including in the United States. The ability to locate acupoints on the body surface precisely is critical for the acupuncture treatment. However, the location of acupoints varies frequently among practitioners. Therefore, in the present study, the author will address the application of acupoint in traditional Chinese medicine (including the anatomical location of acupoint) to draw attention to the issues about the acupoint location in acupuncture research and clinical practice. Moreover, further studies are needed to determine whether acupoint location with specificity could be validated by employing reliable tools. In the future, the incongruity among acupuncturists regarding acupoint location should be resolved, and the acupoint location methods with more accuracy should be developed.

Keywords: acupoint location; acupuncture point; acupuncture research; clinical practice; medical teaching.

PMID: 33739620 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24618

BACK