I discuss how the fundamental theory of strong interactions given by QCD can be exploited to make accurate predictions for the solar fusion processes involving few-nucleon systems and to provide a novel description of nuclear matter as well as excitations near the chiral phase transition. The tool used is effective field theory combined with the modern technique of renormalization group flow. The notion of "BR scaling" is reinterpreted in terms of the vector manifestation �� la Harada and Yamawaki. It is argued that the vector manifestation scenario predicts a QCD phase structure much richer than the standard scenario discussed up to date in the literature.

RevTex4, invited talk at the Symposium 30th Anniv. Nucl. Phys. Div. of Korean Physical Society, Seoul, Korea, 24-25 Oct. 2002