ABSTRACT
Pathology can be defined simply as any abnormality that occurs in the body. The abnormalities can be in anatomical structures, in physiological functions, or in biochemical substances. They can be due to changes in molecules, cells, tissues, organs, or systems. One common indication of pathology is pain, which is the primary concern in acupuncture. It would be accurate to state that the overwhelming majority of people seeking acupuncture, if not all, suffer from some kind of pain. Their pain, in our opinion, is subjective, obvious, and perceivable. They know where the pain is located. However, in acupuncture, there is another form of pain. For this book, this pain will be described as objective, hidden, or unperceived pain. Much more about subjective and objective pain will be presented in Chapter 12. The main purpose of this chapter is to explain how objective pain appears in acupoints. Objective pain is always discernible in passive acupoints, which are also known as the trigger points. Pathology in acupuncture will mean what diseases, damage, or injuries in the body are capable of converting acupoints from the latent phase to the passive phase, as known and observed in the patients received in our own acupuncture clinic.
