A study of Sa-Ahm's thoughts on the four-needle acupuncture technique with the five-element theory.

In order to study Sa-Ahm's underlying thoughts on the basis of Yin-Yang and the five-element theory, the 12 acupuncture meridian systems and eight extra meridian systems were investigated in detail. The clinical acupuncture points for Sa-Ahm's four-needle acupuncture technique were also reviewed. The forms of the combinations using the five Shu acupuncture points, which are based on the promotion and control cycles with tonification and sedation, were shown to connect to the acupuncture points, which represent the meridian system itself. However, not all of Sa-Ahm's clinical cases were fully explained by this doctrine, so the five correlations among the meridian systems and the acupuncture points that affect the clinical treatment and the occurrence of disease were determined. The mutual efficacies for Sa-Ahm's clinical cases can be analyzed and explained with correlativity diagrams that include five interrelations.