Review Article

Moxibustion in Early Chinese Medicine and Its Relation to the Origin of Meridians: A Study on the Unearthed Literatures

Table 1

The moxibustion-related unearthed literatures.

Book involved with moxibustionExcavated timeExcavated sitesInferential completion dateMaterialMain content

Cauterization Canon of the Eleven Vessels of the Foot and Forearm (Zubi Shiyi Maijiujing, 十一脉经)1973Mawangdui Han tomb 3
(Changsha, Hunan province)
During late Qin and early Han dynastiesSilk bookNames, trajectories, and diseases of 11 vessels and moxibustion
Cauterization Canon of the Eleven Yin and Yang Vessels (Yinyang Shiyi Maijiujing, 阴阳十一脉经)1973Mawangdui Han tomb 3
(Changsha, Hunan province)
During late Qin and early Han dynastiesSilk bookName, trajectories, and diseases of vessels
Model of the Vessels (Maifa, )1973Mawangdui Han tomb 3
(Changsha, Hunan province)
During late Qin and early Han dynastiesSilk book(1) Relationship between Qi and vessels
(2) Using moxibustion and Bian stone to treat diseases
(3) Palpating the trajectories of vessels to diagnose diseases
Recipes for Fifty-Two Ailments (Wushi’er Bingfang, 五十二病方)1973Mawangdui Han tomb 3
(Changsha, Hunan province)
During late Qin and early Han dynastiesSilk bookRecipes for treating 52 diseases in internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics
The Ultimate Principles in the Universe (Tianxia Zhidao Tan, 天下至道谈)1973Mawangdui Han tomb 3
(Changsha, Hunan province)
Before or during Han dynastyBamboo slipsPrinciples and skills of health care in sexual behavior
Book of the Vessels (Maishu, 脉书)1983-1984Zhangjiashan Western Han tomb 247
(Jiangling, Hubei province)
Before or during Western Han dynastyBamboo slips(1) Diseases in different parts of the human body and their symptoms
(2) Trajectories of the vessels and their related diseases
Wuwei Medical Slips (Wuwei Handai Yijian, 武威汉代医)1972Hantanpo Han tomb
(Wuwei, Gansu province)
Before Eastern Han dynastyWooden slips and tabletsRecipes for treating diseases in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and andrology