Objective: To study the application of acupoints palpation in reflection of diseases and help of diagnosis in clinic of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Methods: The doctor uses his or her thumb or index finger, middle finger, ring finger to press, touch or slide on the acupoints or along meridians on the body surface of the patient for palpating abnormal changes on meridians and acupoints and combines the clinical manifestations of the patient, so as to analyze and diagnose diseases with meridian theory.

Results: (1) palpation can reveal the position of disease, for example, the patient with chronic digestive disease often has a pressure pain at Zusanli (ST36) and Diji (SP 8),sometimes, a node- or cord-like thing near T9-T12; (2) Palpation can help assessing the nature, extent and prognosis of a disease; (3) Palpation can be used to determine the therapeutic principles of acupuncture and moxibustion and to select methods of acupuncture and moxibustion. According to results of palpation, the deficiency or excess, exterior, interior, mildness or severeness, greater or lesser urgency, cold type or heat type of a disease can be understood and then the principles and methods of treatment are determined; (4) Palpation can be used for guiding selection of acupoints and verifying the results of treatment according to changes of numbers of positive reaction acupoints and reaction forms, the doctor can assess the therapeutic effect.

Conclusion: Palpation of acupoints has a definite effect in diagnosis and treatment.

By Wu Naitong