[The idea of Sun yi (reduction and reinforcement) and the reinforcement and reduction in acupuncture].

Sun yi (reduction and reinforcement) is a couple of a united and opposing conceptive category. To reduce the excess and reinforce the deficiency was considered as the rule of nature by ancient people. This thought had a profound influence on the therapeutic ideas in TCM of reinforcing insufficiency and reducing excess, especially in acupuncture therapy. By analyzing Maishu (pulse book), which was excavated, the author believes that the ideas of reinforcement and reduction in acupuncture evolved gradually from the concept of Sun yi (reduction and reinforcement) to the deficiency and excess of the meridian, then to the reinforcement and reduction in stone needling, and finally formed the ideas of reinforcement and reduction in acupuncture.