Longsha Kaihe Liuqi Acupuncture: A Revolutionary Needling Method Based on the Three Yin Three Yang Opening-Closing-Pivot Theory

The Longsha Kaihe Liuqi Acupuncture method, developed by Professor Gu Zhishan, a representative inheritor of the Longsha medical lineage under the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a innovative needling technique rooted in the Three Yin Three Yang Opening-Closing-Pivot (Kaihe Shu) theory from the Huangdi Neijing. This method applies the six qi (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, fire) patterns of the Five Yun Six Qi system to guide acupuncture point selection and needling direction, offering a simplified yet highly effective approach for a wide range of diseases.

Professor Gu Zhishan, based on the Yin-Yang separation and union theory in the Huangdi Neijing, creatively depicted the “Gu’s Three Yin Three Yang Opening-Closing-Pivot Diagram” and the “Gu’s Three Yin Three Yang Taiji Time-Phase Diagram”. These diagrams clearly illustrate the rhythmic rise and fall of the six qi in the human body, forming the theoretical basis of the Longsha Kaihe Liuqi Acupuncture. The core concept is that the body is a microcosm of the universe, and the opening, closing, and pivoting movements of the three yin and three yang channels govern the flow of qi and blood.

The method can be applied at any point on the body, with the top of the head, abdomen, sacrum (often with fire needles), and local lesion sites being most commonly used. The practitioner and patient ideally face south to align with nature, but any orientation works as the Taiji circle is a dynamic cycle. Needling is always performed clockwise along the skin without deliberate reinforcing or reducing techniques. Finger pressure can substitute for needles. The key is to identify the main and secondary patterns (xiang) based on the patient’s condition and the six qi desease patterns, then select 2-3 corresponding points on the head or other areas.

A 48-year-old female presented with urinary frequency every 30 minutes after a fall. One session of scalp acupuncture at Taiyang (Bladder) and Taiyin (Spleen) points resolved nocturia immediately, and after four sessions she was cured. The selection was based on the bladder governing urination and the patient’s birth year belonging to Earth movement (Taiyin).

A 67-year-old female with recurrent atrial fibrillation (heart rate 113 bpm) was treated with three Shaoyin (Heart) needles plus a Baihui through Shaoyin needle. Within minutes, the rhythm converted to sinus rhythm at 86 bpm. The treatment aligned with the Shaoyin pivot function and the seasonal qi (Shaoyin monarch fire in the fourth qi of the Jihai year).

A female with bilateral heel pain and a left breast lump received scalp needling at Taiyang, Taiyin, and Shaoyin. Pain disappeared immediately. After adding Jueyin (Liver) needle, the breast lump pain vanished and the mass shrank by half. One week later, the mass was non-palpable.

A 42-year-old male with bilateral ureteral stones (13mm and 10mm) and severe pain received umbilical needling at Shaoyin, Taiyang, and Taiyin time-phase points. Pain resolved instantly, and ultrasound three days later showed stones reduced to 8mm and 7mm.

An 87-year-old male with dysphagia and dementia after stroke was treated with scalp needles at Taiyang, Shaoyin, and Taiyin. One hour later, he could swallow 150ml of liquid. After five sessions, swallowing and speech returned to normal.

A 27-year-old female with elevated liver enzymes (ALT 221, AST 503) and fever was treated solely with Jueyin, Shaoyang, and Taiyin scalp needles. After three days, ALT dropped to 225.9, AST to 47, and all markers normalized after seven sessions without any medication.

A 79-year-old male with lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastasis to the left femur, on morphine, presented with limping and pain. One session of Jueyin and Taiyin scalp needling plus Baihui through Taiyin allowed him to discard his cane and walk freely. Pain resolved and morphine was reduced.

A female with right thumb stiffness and pain for one year, accompanied by loose stools, was treated with Taiyin and Shaoyang needles. Within two minutes, pain markedly decreased, and after 30 minutes, pain disappeared completely. Effect was stable at one-week follow-up.

A female practitioner experienced severe dysmenorrhea with abdominal rigidity. Professor Gu used finger pressure on Taiyin and Yangming points on the head for about two minutes, and the pain completely resolved within ten minutes.

A 50-year-old male with type 2 diabetes, poorly controlled on medication, received finger pressure on Jueyin, Shaoyang, and Yangming points on the head for 6-7 minutes. Post-treatment blood glucose dropped to 6.8 mmol/L, compared to his previous postprandial range of 8.9-17.9 mmol/L. Follow-up showed sustained improvement.

A 55-year-old female with years of excessive sweating, unresponsive to herbal medicine, was treated with scalp needling at Taiyang, Shaoyang, Taiyin, and Shaoyin. The next day, sweating was minimal, and after one week, sweating ceased completely, along with relief of joint pain and headaches.

The Longsha Kaihe Liuqi Acupuncture method, grounded in the profound Three Yin Three Yang Opening-Closing-Pivot theory, demonstrates remarkable efficacy across diverse conditions—from acute pain and arrhythmias to chronic metabolic and neurological disorders. Its simplicity, rapid onset, and reproducibility make it a valuable addition to modern acupuncture practice, bridging classical theory with clinical innovation.

References

1. Huangdi Neijing Suwen. Chapter 6: Yin Yang Li He Lun (阴阳离合论). Discusses the opening, closing, and pivoting of the three yin and three yang channels.
2. Huangdi Neijing Lingshu. Chapter 9: Zhong Shi (终始). Describes the six channel desease patterns and time-phase treatment.
3. Gu Zhishan. Longsha Kaihe Liuqi Acupuncture: Theory and Clinical Practice. 2019.
4. Shanghan Lun. Zhang Zhongjing. Discusses six channel desease differentiation, foundational for the six qi patterns used in this method.