Highlighting of Tianhui medical bamboo slips: differentiation and integration of Shu and Mai

The characteristics of acupoint indications vary according to the distribution of acupoints on the body, which is particularly prominent from the perspective of the differences between the acupoints on the trunk and those on the four limbs. The most of meridian-acupoint theories, especially the early theories are based on these differences and collected in Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic). Through the interpretation of the newly unearthed Tianhui medical bamboo slips, it is found that the relevant explanation of Shu (six shu-points [back-shu points and Yuanye, GB 22], distributed on the trunk) and Mai (similar to the names of meridians, referring to those except six shu-points; distributed mostly below the elbows and knees of four limbs, especially on the pulsating sites of the wrists and ankles) also confirms the identification of the differences in both indications and theories between the acupoints located on the trunk and those on the four limbs. In the paper, the essential connotation of the relevant classical theories and their construction path are explored so as to reveal the understanding of the core rules of acupuncture-moxibustion theories.