Analysis Of Syndrome Differentiation Of Treating Stroke By Eight Extra Channels

The eight extra channels control Yin, Yang, Qi and blood of the body. They also strengthen the association between all parts of the body, especially the twelve regular channels. The Du channel governs all the Yang channels. The Ren channel governs all the Yin channels. The Chong channel collectively connects with all the channels of the body. The Dai channel binds all the vertically going channels of the body. The Yinqiao channel and the Yangqiao channel govern the Ying and Yang on the left and right of the body. The Yinwei channel and the Yangwei channel govern the exterior-interior Yin and Yang of the body. Unlike the twelve regular channels which connect with the. five Zang-organs and six Fu-organs, and are being classified into three Yin and three Yang channels, and are controlled by the five elements, the eight extra channels do not connect with any Zangfu-organs, they run from interior to exterior, from anterior to posterior, from left to right and vice versa, they are only classified into one Yin and one Yang channel and are only controlled by Yin and Yang.The Chong, Ren, Du channels run along the middle of the body, the midline of the front and the midline of the back respectively. Because of their midline position, they govern all the channels and collaterals. They are also the important pathways for the ascending and descending movements of the Qi. Therefore the clearance of the pathways of Du, Ren and Chong channels directly affect both the ascending and descending movements of the Qi in the body, as well as the exiting and entering movements of the Qi in the seven orifices of the head and the two Yin-orifices of the lower body. Moreover, these three channels all originate from the uterus and then branch out to run along the front, the lateral aspect and the back of the body. This resembles the Tai Chi of the body which also take the same origin and then divide into Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang of the body are two inseparable opposites. They are rooted from each other in the small universe of the same body. The genuine Yin and genuine Yang are in unity. The eight extra channels mainly belong to the liver and the kidney. They have the function of linking up the congenital Qi and acquired Qi, and hence they have the special function of governing the life activities of the body.The brain, spine, bones and uterus of the extraordinary Fu-organs are all derived from the kidney-Qi. The kidney preserves kidney-essence which constitution includes congenital essence and acquired essence. The gallbladder is derived from the residual liver-Qi. The liver and the kidney have the same origin. Therefore the gallbladder has a close relationship with congenital essence. Moreover, the gallbladder also takes part in the digestion and absorption of food to produce Qi, blood and essence for the nourishment of the five Zang-organs, brain and spine. The vessels, distributed extensively all over the organs and tissues of the whole body, serve to transport congenital and acquired Qi, blood and body fluid to the whole body. Therefore extraordinary Fu-organs are derived from congenital Qi and have both congenital and acquired functional characteristics. They are morphologically similar to the Fu-organs in which they are hollow in shape. However, they function like the Zang-organs in which they can store vital essence. They can store vital essence but are regarded as Fu-organs, therefore it becomes obvious that they possess both the functional characteristics of Zang and Fu-organs. The brain, one of the extraordinary Fu-organs, is the centre of life. Its physiology and pathology are closely related with the five Zang-organs. It is connected to the heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney through the eight extra channels. The extraordinary Fu-organs have the functions of governing the Zangfu-organs and tissues of the whole body and affecting the production and distribution of Qi, blood and body fluid. Moreover, they have the ability to govern, control and balance different Zangfu-organs based on the different physiological needs of the body.Stroke is a disorder of imbalance between Yin and Yang, adverse ascending of Qi and blood, and primary deficiency with secondary excess. Stroke is not only related to the five Zang-organs, namely the heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, but is also related to the extraordinary Fu-organs, namely the brain, spine, bone, vessels and gallbladder. Therefore in treating stroke, it is neither sufficient only to consider the linkage of one Zang-organ and one Fu-organ through the twelve regular channels, nor comprehensive to consider solely with the method of syndrome differentiation of the twelve regular channels, as both considerations do not tackle with the core of the problem. A lot of references from the past and current clinical evidences show that acupuncture and moxibustion used to treat stoke had been mainly applied to points of eight extra channels or their crossing points. Stroke is a disorder of primary deficiency with secondary excess, therefore the application of moxibustion is important .Acupuncture and moxibustion used to treat stroke are mainly based on the diagnostic method of syndrome differentiation of the eight principles, in particular Yin and Yang, deficiency and excess. This method together with syndrome differentiation of Qi and blood, and syndrome differentiation of meridian for treating localised pathology, will capture the complete picture of the pathogenesis of stroke, and hence a more direct and efficient treatment can be provided.