Interpretation of 'needling sensation' (Deqi)

Abstract

In this paper, the actual content of 'needling sensation' (deqi) is explored based on the description in 'Internal Classic'. It has been suggested that there was no discussion on the correlation between 'needling sensation' and patients' reactions to pain in 'Internal Classic'. 'Needling sensation' (deqi) refers to the assembling phenomena of qi at acupoints, which depends on the acupuncturist's own objective experience in the changes of functional activities of qi in patients. 'Regulating qi' is the fundamental law of diseases treatments in 'Internal Classic', nevertheless 'needling sensation' is the groundwork of 'regulating qi'. On the other hand, how to grasp and maintain coordinated functional activities of qi, guard vital-qi and resist pathogenic factors after treatment is also an important content of 'needling sensation.

本文以《內經》所述為根據,探討了'得氣'的實際內涵。認為《內經》中并無把'得氣'與患者的酸痛等反應相聯系的論述。'得氣'是指針刺時在患者穴位中出現的氣聚現象,取決于醫者自身對患者穴位中氣機變化的客觀體察。'調氣'是《內經》治療疾病的根本大法,而'調氣'必須先要'得氣'。另一方面,治療后把握和維持平調的氣機,守護正氣,抗拒邪氣,同樣也是'得氣'的重要內容。