title: Toward a binary interpretation of acupuncture theory: principles and practical consequences.
abstract: There is an argument that the universe functions according to binary principles. This paper applies such a system of evaluation to the interpretation of acupuncture principles, the t'ai chi symbol and the I Ching. As a result, it can be shown that a coherent and interesting ordering of some earthly phenomena can be reached. When these same principles are applied to acupuncture theory, a grouping and ordering of the meridians and associated organs and their respective functions are obtained. A suggestion is also presented about how, using a digital device, diagnosis and treatment could be reached in the future if this approach is deepened and proves successful. I call this binary medicine, something that would have some similarities as to how electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) works. Basically, diagnosis would be done in terms of excess, balance or deficit (+1, 0 or -1, respectively) and treatment would be done in terms of draining for +1 or filling for -1; 0 means a balanced state that does not need any treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. c.gonzalez@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carlos-Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: González-Correa
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture / Q000592:standards; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000592:standards; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D019413:Qi; D016709:Yin-Yang