[Application rules and characteristics of Professor <i>LI Zhidao</i>'s "group acupoints"].

Professor <i>LI Zhidao</i> puts forward the application of "group acupoints" in his clinical practice by imitating the mutual reinforcement and mutual assistance of Chinese herbal medicine. It is based on the theory as "where is the acupoint located, what are the indications of this acupoint"; and consists with the specific actions of ancient needling techniques at acupoints. The distribution of "group acupoints" is in line with the "located by the region division of the head and trunk, and by the meridians on the four extremities", which is recorded in <i>Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing</i> (<i>the Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion</i>). It shows "the importance of the relationship between acupoints and <i>zangfu</i>", and "the emphasis on the distribution of nerves and muscles" respectively. In clinical practice, controlling needling sensation is the essence of this technique at "group acupoints", the integration of acupoints and needling technique is the basic requirement, and the step-by-step needling manipulation is critical for obtaining the therapeutic effect. "Group acupoints" combined with specific needling technique advance the application efficiency and the effect of acupoints.