[Acupuncture-material science: a new branch of acupuncturology]

Combining the current development of material science and acupunctology, we propose a new concept of "acupuncture-material science" as the new branch of acupunctology. We also hold that this new branch may be in the future the important direction of acupuncture-moxibustion instrument innovation. The future carding and development of the connotations and epita-xial contents of this discipline, the classification, applied range, research and development of the materials, as well as the related standard formulation, etc. should be paid more attention and improved in order to make greater contribution to the inheritance and innovation of acupunctology in the new era.