Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, Aug. 2003, Vol.1, No.
4 93 9
Professor QIN Liang-fu' s Clinical Experience:Using
Governor Vessel to Treat Miscellaneous Diseases
SHEN Hui-feng ( ~ . ~ )
Department of TCM, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai
200001, China
Professor QIN attaches great importance to the
theory of Governor Vessel and focuses on the regula-
tion of the yang qi in the Governor Vessel. In the ear-
ly 1960s, he put forward the viewpoint that the Gov-
ernor Vessel is mainly used to treat such diseases of
the limbs as cervical and lumbar retrograde affection,
apoplectic sequelae and syringomyelia. In Chinese
medicine, the Governor Vessel is considered as the
sea and commander of yang meridians, dominating
the yang qi throughout the body and connecting the
hand and foot yang meridians. Professor QIN applies
the theory of Governor Vessel to harmonize yin and
yang, qi and blood, ultimately to treat various miscel-
laneous disorders. Gradually, he gets used to use the
Governor Vessel to treat miscellaneous diseases. Clin-
ical practice has proved that the acupoints of the
Governor Vessel have better effects than the local
acupoints in the treatment of miscellaneous diseases.
Iris clinical experience is presented as follows.
Mental Disorders
Mental disorders are characterized by the abnormal
activities of the mind, pertaining to the categories of
"mania syndrome" and "depression syndrome" in
Chinese medicine. It is primarily caused by the imbal-
ance of yin and yang, spiritual escape from brain, fiv-
er fire from depression, and intense heart fire distur-
bing the mind. Brain is the house where spirit dwells
and the heart governs the mind. The Governor Vessel
runs upwards through the heart and then goes into
the brain. Therefore, professor QIN argues that the
brain disorders should principally be dealt with nee-
dling the Governor Vessel to refresh brain, open ori-
fices and calm the mind.
The frequently used acupoints are Baihui (GV 20),
Dazhui (GV 14) and Ymtang (Ex-HN 3). In the pres-
ence of epilepsy, Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36)
are added; in the presence of mania, Taichong (LR 3)
and Jianshi (PC 5) are added; in the presence of de-
pression, Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Zu-
sanli (ST 36) are added. Baihui (GV 20) is the acu-
point where many meridians converge. Imbalance of
yin and yang, mania in particular, is caused by the
fire in yangming meridians and can thus be treated by
needling Baihui (GV 20) with reducing techniques to
drain the fire, as a result to clear heat and open ori-
fices and calm mind. Dazhui (GV 14) is the crossing
acupoint of the Governor Vessel and the hand-foot
yang meridians, and functions to clear heat and sedate
mind, calm spirit and downbear the adverse. Yintang
(Ex-HN 3) is an extra acupoint, but some physicians
take it as an acupoint of the Governor Vessel, func-
tioning to sedate and calm mind. Professor QIN con-
ceives these three acupoints as the necessary ones for
the mental disorders. What' s more, other acupoints
are added according to syndrome differentiation. For
example, Neiguan (PC 6) is added to reduce heart fire
so as to treat epilepsy; Taichong (LR 3) and Jianshi
(PC 5) are added to reduce liver fire so as to treat
mania; Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Zusanli
(ST 36) are added to free liver qi, relieve depression
and nourish spleen so as to treat melancholia.
This was a woman at the age of 46, who was ini-
tiaUy seen on December 21, 1992. She came here for
medical service in company with her mother-in-law.
She was mentally depressive, with terr~le panic, vex-
ation, restlessness, repeated murmuring, unquiet
sleep, flushed face, excessive eye gum, dry and whit-
ish coating, wiry and slippery and rapid pulse, as well
as suppressed menstruation, discomforts in the lower
abdomen, painful low back and legs. According to
professor QIN, this is differentiated as liver fire resul-
ting from depression and driving the spirit out from
the brain.
Treatment principle: Clearing heat and opening ori-
fices, sedating mind and nourishing spleen and stom-
ach.
Acupuncture treatment: Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui
(GV 14), Yintang (Ex-HN 3), Neiguan (PC 6) and
Shenmen (HT 7) were needled with reducing tech-
niques; Zusanli (ST 36) and Taixi (KI 3) were needled
with reinforcing techniques. The needles were re-
tained for 15 minutes and manipulated once, and re-