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Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy between the combined therapy of fire needling and cupping, and western medication on herpes zoster of acute stage, as well as the effects on Th17 and Treg cells and inflammatory factors, i.e. IL-10 and IL-17 in the peripheral blood., Methods: Eighty patients with herpes zoster of acute stage were randomly divided into a combined therapy (fire needling plus cupping) group and a western medication group, 40 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, the pricking and scattering techniques with fire needle were used at ashi points and Jiaji (EX-B 2) corresponding to the affected spinal segments; afterwards, cupping therapy was delivered. The combined treatment was given once daily. In the western medication group, valaciclovir hydrochloride tablet and vitamin B 1 tablet were administered orally. The duration of treatment in each group was 10 days. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11 , the score of symptoms and physical signs was observed in the two groups separately. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11, 30, 60, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and skin lesion indexes were observed in the two groups. On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was recorded in the two groups. The levels of Th17 and Treg cells, Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were detected before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups., Results: From day 6 to day 10 during treatment and on day 11, the scores of symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). On day 3, day 6 to day 10 during treatment and day 11, day 30, VAS scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the combined therapy group was lower compared with that in the western medication group ( P <0.05). The blister arresting time and scabbing time in the combined therapy group were shorter than those of the western medication group ( P< 0.05). After treatment, the level of Th17, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were all lower in comparison with those in the western medication group ( P <0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 82.5% (33/40) in the combined therapy group, higher than 62.5% (25/40) in the western medication group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: The early application of fire needling combined with cupping therapy can effectively treat herpes zoster of acute stage, relieve pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, which may be related to reducing the levels of Th17 and Treg cells, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 so that the cellular immune balance is modulated.

The paper introduces professor LIN Guo - hua 's experience in treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion at "Dayingxiang". Based on the application of Neiyingxiang (internal LI 20), professor LIN defines the entire nasal cavity and its adjacent nasopharynx as "Dayingxiang", of which, "Neiyingxiang" and "Biyandian" (nasopharynx point) are commonly stimulated with acupuncture-moxibustion. "Dayingxiang" may regulate lung qi and promote the circulation of the marrow sea in treatment of the disorders of lung system and the marrow. Fire needling with twirling or burning-scallion technique is predominated in manipulation. "Neiyingxiang" is stimulated for the shallow-located disorders, while, "Biyandian" is for the deep-located ones. These two points are optioned alternatively or in combination to enhance the therapeutic effect.

The paper summarizes professor LIN Guo - hua 's clinical experience in staging treatment for post-stroke dysphagia. Professor LIN Guo - hua adheres to "essence and marrow deficiency and primary yang decline" as the pathogenesis and "conducting yin from yang " as the treating principle. By regulating the conception vessel and the governor vessel and focusing on yang meridians, in association with meridian differentiation and the location differentiation, professor LIN provides the staging treatment for post-stroke dysphagia. At the oral phase, yangming is dysfunction, manifested as facial paralysis and flaccid tongue. In treatment, reducing method is predominated at yangming meridian specially. At the pharyngeal phase, shaoyang is invaded by pathogens, manifested as pivoting dysfunction. The treatment focuses on communicating the exterior with the interior and promoting shaoyang meridian. At the esophageal phase, yangming meridian is deficiency and the turbid qi fails to descend, thus the reinforcing method is dominated to promote and tonify yangming . Additionally, the kinesiotherapy of acupuncture is assisted and the Lingnan fire needling therapy is used particularly. All of the summaries above provide the reference for the clinical treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.

To summarize ZHANG Jia-wei 's experience for treating press ulcer with fire-moxibustion. Through syndrome differentiation and examined factors, ZHANG Jia-wei believes that the disease is caused by qi deficiency and blood stasis, and advocates that the treatment should be weighed against deficiency and excess, and selection by stages. The cotton-moxibustion is used to diffusing and obstruction-removing qi and blood duingⅠstage of press ulcer. The Lingnan fire-needling is adopted for removing dampness, blood stasis and toxic substance to generate new muscles duringⅡand Ⅲ stage of press ulcer. Stage Ⅳof pressure ulcer and deep pressure ulcer should be treated with Taiyi moxa stick and aconite cake-separated moxibustion combined or alternately to expel toxin and grow muscles.

Professor LIN Guo - hua 's experience and medical record in the treatment of intractable sudden deafness with acupuncture is introduced. Professor LIN believes that this disease is mainly caused by the blockage of shaoyang meridians, and should be treated with acupuncture therapy as soon as possible. According to the root cause and the pathogenesis of shaoyang blockage, the method of "soothing shaoyang , clearing the ear and opening the orifices" is adopted. In the treatment, Tinggong (SI 19) and acupoints in shaoyang meridians are selected as the main acupoints, and other acupoints based on meridian differentiation are selected as assisting acupoints. The manipulatingmethods of " fameng acupuncture" "blowing warm air into ear", and "Lingnan fire needling" are used synthetically. And qi and spirit are also regulated and front mu points are added if necessary to obtain satisfied effect of restore hearing.

Professor LIN Guo-hua 's experience is introduced in treatment of progressive muscular dystrophy with acupuncture. It is believed that the pathogenesis of this disease is related to spleen and kidney deficiency, qi and blood insufficiency and malnutrition of tendon and muscle. The treatment is determined in terms of the pathogenesis and focuses on the regulation of spleen and kidney functions. The thinking of treatment is summarized as exerting the strong stimulation of acupuncture specially at the acupoints on the head, supplementing the sea of marrow, adjusting simultaneously the three yang meridians, rather than treating particularly yangming meridian and regulating qi in priority and considering the lung function for wei (flaccid) syndrome. Moreover, in clinical treatment, the acupoint thread-embedding therapy is commonly combined to ensure the significant therapeutic effect.

Professor LIN Guo - hua 's clinical experience of acupuncture for oculomotor nerve palsy was summarized and one typical case was introduced. Professor LIN skillfully applied traditional acupuncture theory and classical acupuncture method, and proposed a diagnosis and treatment system combining meridian syndrome differentiation and specific acupuncture techniques. In addition, Professor LIN combined the yuan -primary and luo -connecting acupoints combination method, theory of "removing the stagnation of blood and qi " and theory of root-stem and origin-end, etc. into the treatment of oculomotor nerve palsy, and achieved good results.

Yinjiao (GV 28) is generally used in treatment of lumbago and anorectal diseases. Professor LIN Guo - hua believes that Yinjiao (GV 28) is indicated in the disorders related to the sea of marrow and lower jiao by regulating the governor vessel and the conception vessel, promoting qi and blood circulation, tonifying the sea of marrow and adjusting the lower jiao . Based on professor Lin 's clinical experience, "three Yinjiao" points are innovated, named Yinjiao (GV 28, upper Yinjiao), external Yinjiao and lower Yinjiao. Acupuncture therapy is generally optioned at Yinjiao (GV 28) and 5 needling principles are emphasized, i.e. accurate acupoint location, strong needling sensation, needling combined with body movement, alternative stimulation and allied stimulation. All of those mentioned above provide a new approach to the clinical treatment for the disorders related to the sea of marrow and lower jiao .

Combined with previous clinical experience in anti-epidemic and acupuncture, the prevention program of fire needling therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was drawn out. Fire needling therapy has the effects of clearing heat, removing dampness, replenishing for the deficiency, removing stasis and detoxifying, which is mainly aimed at preventing populations, light and common types cases, and cases in the recovery period. Acupoints of governor vessel, lung meridian, bladder meridian and stomach meridian are mainly used in this program. For the special groups, such as children, elderly and weak, and pregnant women, Shenzhu (GV 12), Danshu (BL 19), Geshu (BL 17), Zhigou (TE 6), etc. are added. It is hoped that fire needling therapy will be applied in the community and square cabin hospitals as an effective supplement to anti-epidemic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Objective: To objectively evaluate the safety of acupoint catgut embedding therapy., Methods: A total of 331 patients who received acupoint catgut embedding therapy were enrolled and summarized through the inpatient medical record system, follow-up record and adverse reaction report card. The statistical analysis was performed from the aspects of patients' gender, age, marital status, history of allergy, history of diabetes and the time, symptoms, duration and prognosis of adverse reactions, etc., Results: Among 331 patients who received acupoint catgut embedding therapy, 70 patients had adverse reactions, which were divided into 9 types, including post-treatment discomfort, local hematoma or subcutaneous hemorrhage, local swelling, local induration, severe pain, thread-body rejection, local pruritus, post-treatment body temperature rising, local redness, swelling, fever and pain. The incidence rate of adverse events was 21.15%, and the incidence of serious adverse events was 0. Among the patients with adverse reactions, 58 patients (82.86%) relieved without treatment, and 12 patients (17.14%) received after symptomatic treatment; all patients had no sequelae., Conclusion: The acupoint catgut embedding therapy is relatively safe and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

Professor LIN Guo - hua is the representative inheritor of Lingnan fire needling therapy. He proposed that the clinical application of Lingnan fire needling is mainly based on pattern differentiation according to eight priciples, as well as in coordination with the theories of meridians and zang - fu organs. He believes that dry eye syndrome can be treated from the aspects of deficiency of liver and kidney, heart yin deficiency, and qi and yin deficiency. Through deeply digging the connotation of ancient classics, and combined his clinical practice using Lingnan fire needling, professor LIN created a unique therapy that select "Neichengqi"as the main acupoint combined with Xialeidian, Dagukong (EX-UE 5), Xiaogukong (EX-UE 6) and Shaoze (SI 1) in the treatment of dry eye syndrome. In this paper, from the etiology and pathogenesis of dry eye syndrome and therapeutic characteristics of Lingnan fire needling, the thoughts of syndrome differentiation and characteristics of acupoints selection of professor LIN were analyzed by a typical case, and it is expect to enrich the clinical treatment plan for dry eye syndrome.

Objective: To observe the effect of direct moxibustion at Sihua points on immune function and life quality of chemotherapy patients with non-small cell lung cancer., Methods: Eighty cases were randomly divided into a chemotherapy and moxibustion group (group A) and a chemotherapy group (group B), 40 cases in each one. Navelbine and cisplatin were applied in both groups. In addition, direct moxibustion at Sihua points which included Geshu (BL 17) and Danshu (BL 19) was used in the group A. Three moxa-cones were given on each acupoint, once a day, ten days treatment made one session and totally one session was required. The change of colony stimulating factor (CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-2 (IL- 2) and Karnofsky scale was compared between the two groups before and after treatment., Results: After the treatment, the levels of serum CSF, IL-2 in the group A were higher than those in the group B (both P < 0.01), while the level of TNF in the group A was lower than that in the group B (P<0. 01). Although Karnofsky score was decreased in the two groups (both P < 0.01), the score in the group A was higher than that in the group B (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Direct moxibustion at Sihua points could increase the levels of CSF and IL-2 and reduce TNF in the chemotherapy patients with lung cancer, which could improve immune function, clinical efficacy and life quality.