In order to inherit the ancient acupuncture reinforcing and reducing methods and provide references to study those methods，this paper is based on much literature of reinforcing and reducing methods by twirling the needle and "rotating the needle to the left for reinforcing, to the right for reducing". With yin-yang theory of traditional Chinese medicine, including descending and ascending of yin-yang, the principle of "Hetu" and "Luoshu", and Taiji (quintessence of universe) and the Eight Diagrams, we analyse reinforcing and reducing methods by twirling the needle of "rotating the needle to the left for reinforcing, to the right for reducing". Besides, combined with modern experimental and clinical studies, the feasibility and efficacy of twisting reinforcing and reducing are demonstrated. This paper also gives scholars new insights and enriches the theoretical knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine of reinforcing and reducing methods by rotating the needle, to guide experimental research and clinical practice.
Keywords: Chinese acupuncture; reinforcing and reducing methods by twirling the needle; rotating the needle to the left for reinforcing, to the right for reducing; yin-yang theory.