Progress of research on specificity of meridian acupoint efficacy

Acupuncture point specificity is the theoretical basis for meridian and acupuncture theory. Also it is the key factor for the efficacy of acupuncture treatment. Studies on acupoint specifificity have aroused wide interest in scholars both at home and abroad. Some researchers abroad do not support acupoint specifificity. Chinese scholars have, after years of research, preliminarily confifirmed the existence of acupoint specifificity. However, there is still no conclusive evidence to support acupoint specificity in terms of its specific physiological foundation, underlying mechanism and laws. This paper summarizes and analyzes basic and clinical researches on acupoint specificity in biological structure, physiology and acupoint effect, provides clues for further studies and develops the theoretical basis for acupont specifificity.