[Perspectives of network thinking and network analysis applied on meridians and collaterals researches].

The retrospective method of literatures was adopted and the epistemology of network thinking was integrated with the methodology of network analytic techniques so that the researches of meridian and collateral could be conducted in the new view of complex networks. The results indicate that meridian and collateral could be regarded as the complex networks composed of acupoints and meridians. The thinking and the methods of network analysis are ongoing to be applied to the paradigm of the analysis on meridian and collateral and it is expected that the paradigm could generate profound impacts on understanding the substance of meridian and collateral as well as on guiding clinical practice.