A proposed standard international acupuncture nomenclature : report of a WHO scientific group

Abstract

Records the consensus reached by a group of 12 experts commissioned to develop a standard international nomenclature for identifying the meridians, points, and lines used in acupuncture. The nomenclature, which has been under development since 1981, is intended to facilitate communication among those engaged in both the practice of acupuncture and research into its modes of action and therapeutic efficacy. Classical acupuncture points, in use for more than 2500 years, are covered together with several new points introduced over the past two decades. The book opens with a brief overview of the history of acupuncture and a discussion of reasons for the recent revival of interest in this unique system of therapy and pain relief. Readers are also given an explanation of the many factors that have repeatedly hindered past efforts to develop a standard international nomenclature. Problems identified range from the multiplicity of names used for individual points to the fact that the Han character, widely used in oriental medicine, confers philosophical concepts on meridians and acupuncture points which often defy translation. Against this background, the proposed nomenclature is set out in 18 pages of tables and figures. Each of the 14 main meridians used in classical acupuncture is identified by its name in the Chinese phonetic alphabet (‎Pinyin)‎, its Han character name, a proposed name in English, and a two-letter alphabetic code derived from the English name. The 361 classical acupuncture points, organized under these 14 main meridians, are identified by an alphanumeric code, the Pinyin name, and the Han character. The book also proposes a nomenclature for eight extra meridians, 48 extra points, and 14 scalp acupuncture lines accompanied by diagrams showing their location. The book concludes with a series of recommendations for the standardization of other areas of acupuncture nomenclature and for further action pertaining to training for the practice of acupuncture, regulation by health authorities, safety, and research