[Development of the connotation of deficiency and excess and acupuncture reinforcing and reducing theory]

There are connotations on regulating deficiency and excess by acupuncture reinforcing and reducing in Neijing (the Internal Canon of Medicine), including regulating yin and yang, regulating blood and qi, regulating weakened body resistance and state of evil domination, regulating the deficiency and excess of syndrome. The deficiency and excess usually mean the objects received reinforcing and reducing, such as tangible blood stasis, pus, water, etc, and invisible qi. The deficiency and excess had always mean the symptoms of diseases since Nanjing (Classic of Questioning), and the reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture was regulating qi. Therefore the connotations of reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture changed and there were complex acupuncture reinforcing and reducing manipulations. The various deficiency and excess connotations and stressing on acupuncture regulating qi made important changes for the theories and methods of acupuncture reinforcing and reducing which showed the profound impacts of the philosophical thought of qi monism in ancient China on acupuncture and moxibustion science.