Classification of Autonomous Nervous Functions to Replace the Meridian System for Acupuncture/Moxibustion/Massage

Introduction: It is revealed by biomedical studies that the autonomous nervous system mediates most clinical effects of acupuncture/moxibustion/massage. Whereas, it is advantageous for the classical meridian system to instruct acupuncture/moxibustion/massage by classifying the various acupoints into related meridians. Purpose: It was aimed to replace the meridian system with the classification of autonomous nervous functions for acupuncture/moxibustion/massage. Methods: It was searched the relevant papers on autonomous nervous system and acupuncture/moxibustion/massage, then classified and summarized. Results and Discussions: It is classified the autonomous nervous functions into: (a) Adjacent/feedback modulation, like local chronic pain, itch, inflammation, acupuncture, and so on; (b) Remote multi-point sensing coordination, including autonomous coordination to visual or acoustic attention, arousal, sleep, insomnia, yawn, remote analgesia/hiccup acupuncture, etc; (c) Dynamic coordination, either contraction or stretch, including cardiovascular coordination for arm/hand movement, and leg movement to change the intestine/urinary-bladder; (d) Thoracic-abdominal-back coordination, including the sympathetic/parasympathetic regulation therein, with addition of enteric nervous system, cardiorenal interactions, gut blood-pressure interactions, etc; (e) Emotional coordination onto sympathetic/parasympathetic system and related psychiatric diseases; (f) Environmental coordination, including temperature regulation, day/night circadian coordination, and so on. Consistently, with clinical effects and biomedical supports for acupuncture/moxibustion/massage, it is corresponded the respective acupuncture/moxibustion/massage of acupoints to the classification of autonomous nervous functions, while listed the common acupoints of clear clinical effects for demonstration. Conclusions: It recommends to use the classification of autonomous nervous functions to replace the meridian system in acupuncture/moxibustion/massage jointly for both diagnosis and treatment.