[Exploration of professor ZHANG Shan-chen's academic thoughts]

Professor ZHANG Shan-chen's clinical experience and academic thoughts in the field of acupuncture are summarized. Professor ZHANG stresses on theoretical exploration and has written Zhenjiu Jiayijing Shuxue Chongji, published a series of articles on textual research and expounded the nomenclature of acupoints. He believes that clinical practice should be guided by theory and the comprehensive syndrome differentiation be emphasized. Hence, a holistic idea should be cultivated, in which, the human body is considered as an organic whole and should be adaptive to the nature. Based on the theory above, the diagnosis can be determined and the effective treatment be received. He suggests selecting few acupoints, identifying the deficiency from the excess so as to determine the reinforcing or replenishing method and exerting appropriate needling manipulation. Additionally, the response should be enhanced on the identification of deqi after needle insertion. Moreover, a great consideration is laid on the clinical trial and application of moxibustion, which is complemented with acupuncture technique each other and mutually conductive to the clinical effect.