[Discussion on the citation of acu-moxibustion treatment verses in textbook acupuncturology].

Verses on Acu-moxibustion Treatment have played an important role in the pervasion and spread of indications of acupoints. Abundant verses are widely cited in different versions of the textbook Acupuncturology for university and college students in China. Some contents about clinical indications of acupoints are even listed in partial verses. However, one important issue should be noted that the source of some indications of acupoints summarized in these verses needs being investigated, and the indications of some acupoints have been seldom mentioned in literature. For example, Sizhukong (TE 23) is used to treat toothache, Diwuhui (GB 42) used to treat tinnitus, Shangqiu (SP 5) used to treat jaundice, Chongmen (SP 12) selected to treat metrorrhagia, metrostaxis and abnormal vaginal discharge, Sanjiaoshu (BL 22) chosen to treat dysentery, etc. These descriptions (indications of these acupoints) need being verified in clinical practice, and thus should be used cautiously. Moreover, the verse is a type of barriers of literature in which some errors may occur in the course of spread from generation to generation and are also inherited in verses. For instance, Fubai (GB 10) is employed to treat scrofula, Yanggang (BL 48) employed to treat jaundice, Yishe (BL 49) used to treat vomiting and difficulty in swallowing, Shiguan (KI 18) taken to treat sterility, Yamen (GV 15) taken to treat epilepsy, etc. Therefore, the editors of teaching materials for acu-moxibustion should take a very cautious attitude when using such kinds of contents in verses.