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CC BY 4.0 · Chinese medicine and natural products 2024; 04(02): e56-e60
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787281
Review Article

Syndrome Differentiation and Mechanism Exploration of “Tongguan Liqiao” Acupuncture Method for Treating Poststroke Dysphagia

Hongwen Huang
1   First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
2   National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
3   Tianjin Key Laboratory of Science of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
,
Chao Chen
1   First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
2   National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
,
Xiaonong Fan
1   First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
2   National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
3   Tianjin Key Laboratory of Science of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
4   Tianjin Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, Tianjin, China
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1705004), Tianjin Science and Technology Plan Project (21JCZDJC00890) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (82374578).
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Abstract

“Tongguan Liqiao” acupuncture method established by Xuemin Shi, a master of traditional Chinese medicine in China and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, derives from the famous “Xing Nao Kai Qiao” therapy (activating the brain and opening the orifices) acupuncture method. It fundamentally takes “adjusting the spirit” as the root of selecting acupoints based on syndrome differentiation. Neiguan (PC 6), Renzhong (DU 26), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are selected as the main acupoints to adjust the spirit and revive the brain, nourish the liver and kidney, which treats the root cause. Acupoints such as Lianquan (RN 23), Yifeng (SJ 17), Wangu (GB 12), and Fengchi (GB 20) in the neck region are selected for “unblocking orifices,” which relieves the symptoms. This acupuncture method features deep needling, which aligns with modern swallowing function anatomy. The method can improve the function of poststroke dysphagia by enhancing cerebral blood supply and metabolism and promoting neural functional remodeling.

Keywords

“Tongguan Liqiao” acupuncture method - poststroke dysphagia - adjusting the spirit - double sling mechanism - neural functional remodeling

CRediT Authorship Contribution Statement

Hongwen Huang: Writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, and project administration. Chao Chen: Investigation and resources. Xiaonong Fan: Conceptualization, supervision, resources, and writing—review and editing.




Publication History

Received: 19 January 2024

Accepted: 26 March 2024

Article published online:
27 June 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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