title: Moxibustion in Early Chinese Medicine and Its Relation to the Origin of Meridians: A Study on the Unearthed Literatures.
abstract: Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It achieved higher level of recognition and had more general application in ancient times than in contemporary life. As the vital historical sources, the records of unearthed literatures offered precious insights to Chinese social life pattern and medical practice inQinandHandynasties (221 BC-220 AD). There was no surprise that the bamboo and silk documents excavated fromMawangdui() tomb,Hantanpo() tomb, and other relics had a large amount of texts relevant to moxibustion. This research sorted moxibustion recordings from seven unearthed literatures and discovered that moxibustion had been developed into different modalities and utilized to treat many diseases at that time. In addition, the indications, contraindications of moxibustion, and the method of postmoxibustion care were also discussed. On this basis, some hints were provided to support the hypothesis that the practice of moxibustion led to the discovery of meridians. All our preliminary results in the research have drawn attention for this old therapy and given a new source for its application in clinic and scientific research.
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0618-3181
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Jiankang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Beijing Huguosi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Juntian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Mengyun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Baixiao
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3644-6883
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao