[Non-acupoint effects: based on the analysis of traditional acupuncture-moxibustion theory]

Based on the traditional theory in Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the acupuncture effects of non-acupoints on the body surface were explored. There are the effects of the non-acupoints on meridians, the effects of five tissues (local effects, resonance effects, five-zang effects and particular effects) and regional effects (nearby effects, structural corresponding effects, holistic effects and the special effects on the specific regions), etc. The innovative recognitions are proposed. ① Stimulating the non-acupoint sites on the body surface generates definite effects, not limited to the local nearby effects. For example, the resonance effects and five-zang effects are generated by stimulating five tissues. The counter-acting force presents between five tissues and five-zang organs. ② The regional effects are rich in content and its mechanisms on the induction, coordination and correspondence are not in reference to zangfu, meridian and collateral, but are related to the characteristics of qi activity of the regional body itself. ③ Acupuncture presents not only the effects of the abstract meridian-collateral and the acupoints, but also the effects of concrete five tissues and regions. Acupuncture therapeutic effects may result from the cumulative effects, especially related to the stimulation of the strength by the needle tip. ④ Regarding the differences in the effects between the meridian points and non-acupoint stimulation, the former attaches the importance on "qi ", which is abstract and dynamic and the later on "shape", which is concrete and static.