There is nothing in the most advanced contemporary medicine
whose embryo cannot be found in the medicine of the past.
─Maximilien E.P. Littré
FUNDAMENTALS OF ACUPUNCTURE
Each acupuncture point has specific effects on the different currents and organs of the body. Acupuncture points are divided in groups and there are seven very commonly used groups of these points.
Transporting Points, Five element Points, Yuan-Source Points, Xi-Accumulating-Cleft Points, Mu-Front-Alarm Points, Shu-Back Points, and Window to the Sky Points.
Transporting Points: There are five transporting points on each channel. They begin at the fingers and toes and stop at the elbows and knees. At each point the flow of Qi resembles the body of water it is named after. Beginning at the finger or tip of the toes, they are:
Jing-Well: the flow is slender and thin. Jing-Well points is where the Qi of the channel emerges and moves towards the trunk. Located on the tips of the fingers and toes. These points restore consciousness, clear Heat and Stagnation from the opposite end of the channel, calm the spirit, and treat fullness below the heart.
Yin Channels Jing-Well Points (Wood): LU11, PC9, HT9, SP1, LV1, KD1.
Yang Channels Jing-Well Points (Metal): LU1, SJ1, SI1, ST45, GB44, UB67.
Ying-Spring: the flow is larger and has direction. Ying-Spring Points is where the Qi of the channel trickles. Points are located proximal to the Jing-Well points. Ying-Spring points clear Heat from the meridians and organs they cross, restore the opposite end of the channel, and clear Heat over the entire course of the channel.
Yin Channels Ying-Spring Points (Fire): LU10, PC8, HT8, SP2, LV2, KD2.
Yang Channels Ying-Spring Points (Water): LI2, SJ2, SI2, ST44, GB43, UB66.
Shu-Stream: the current has depth and more width. Where the Qi of the channel pours. Shu-Stream points are located at or near the joints of the extremities, or at ankles and wrists. Shu-Stream points are effective for heaviness and pain in the joints. Shu-Stream combined with Yin-Spring points treat the Yin organs. Yang Shu-Stream points are useful for the entire channel stagnation, and the Ling Shu in chapter 44 states that ‘…they are useful for diseases that come and go.’
Yin Channels Shu-Stream Points (Earth): LU9, PC7, HT7, SP3, LV3, KD3.
Yang Channels Shu-Stream Points (Wood):LI3, SJ3, SI3, ST43, GB41, UB65.
Jing-River: the flow of Qi is wider and deeper yet. Where the Qi of the channels speed up to flow freely and heavily. Located on the forearms and lower legs. Resolve external pathogenic factors such as cough, fever, and chills; disorders of muscles, tendons, bones, and joints; irregularities manifesting int he voice.
Yin Channels Shu-Stream Points (Metal): LU8, PC5, HT4, SP5, LV4, KD7.
Yang Channels Shu-Stream Points (Fire):LI5, SJ6, SI5, ST41, GB38, UB60.
He-Sea: the flow of Qi is the widest and deepest. At the Sea points is also where the Qi goes deep into the body and connects with the pertaining organs. Located at or near the elbows and knees. Good at combating counter-flow Qi, diarrhea, and hot skin diseases. Resolves issues with the Yang organs and channels, and treats the Fu organs.
Yin Channels Shu-Stream Points (Water): LU5, PC3, HT3, SP9, LV8, KD10.
Yang Channels Shu-Stream Points (Earth):LI11, SJ10, SI8, ST36, GB34, UB40.
Lower He Sea Points of the 6 Fu Yang Organs: the lower He Sea points, also called the Lower Sea or Lower Uniting He points, are used to treat their respective Yang organs.
Yangming: Large Intestine ST37 ─ Stomach ST36
Shaoyang: SanJiao UB39 ─ Gallbladder GB34
Taiyang: Small Intestine ST39 ─ Urinary Bladder UB40
Five Element Points: The Five Element points begin at the finger and tips of the toes. Each set of points begins with the names of Wood or Metal and continues up the arm or leg until all five elements are represented. The Five Element relationships are key to selection of the points in treatment.
| MOTHER | CHILD | |
| Lung (Metal) | LU9 | LU5 |
| Large Intestine (Metal) | LI11 | LI2 |
| Stomach (Earth) | ST41 | ST45 |
| Spleen (Earth) | SP2 | SP5 |
| Heart (Fire) | HT9 | HT7 |
| Small Intestine (Fire) | SI3 | SI8 |
| Urinary Bladder (Water) | UB67 | UB65 |
| Kidney (Water) | KD7 | KD1 |
| Pericardium (Fire) | PC9 | PC7 |
| SanJiao (Fire) | SJ3 | SJ10 |
| Gallbladder (Wood) | GB43 | GB38 |
| Liver (Wood) | LV8 | LV2 |
Yuan-Source Points: There is one Yuan-Source point on each organ channel. This point will release Source Qi in the system when needled. Yuan-Source points are where the Yuan Qi, or primordial Qi of the body emerges. Each of the 12 meridians has a Yuan-Source point including the SanJiao mai, which is the meridian responsible for circulating the Yuan-Qi. The Yuan-Source points with their relationship to the primordial Qi, indicate the nature of Yin in the body; and the Yin Yuan Points can be used to tonify the 5 Yin organs of HT, LU, SP, KD, LV, and use as diagnostic tools for the 5 Yin organs. The Yang Yuan Points are not used to tonify Yang organs, but are used to expel pathogenic factors and release excess patterns. The 12 Yuan-Source points are:
The Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin: TAIYUAN LU9
The Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin: TAIBAI SP3
The Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming: HEGU LI4,
The Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming: CHONGYANG ST42,
The Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin: SHENMEN HT7
The Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin: TAIXI KD3
The Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang: WANGU SI4
The Urinary Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang: JINGGU UB64
The SanJiao Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang: YANGCHI SJ4
The Gall Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang: QIUXU GB40
The Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin: DALING PC7
The Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin: TAICHONG LV3
Xi-Cleft Points-Accumulating: The Xi-Cleft-Accumulating points are somewhat like wide shallow spots in a river where the Qi slows and collects. Needling Xi-Cleft points therefore accesses more Qi and is more effective at clearing a channel than most points. These points are located at or near joints of the body.
In treatment they are used for acute conditions, especially pain, that involve their related organs and channels.
LU6: acute asthma, Wind-Heat
LI7: sore throat, face pain and swelling
SP8: blood stagnation in the uterus and LowerJiao
ST34: breast issues, epigastric pain
HT6: heart pain, reckless bleeding due to Heat
SI6: severe pain along the SI channel
KD5: menstrual problems due to deficiency and blood stagnation
UB63: acute cystitis
PC4: severe chest pain, reckless bleeding due to Heat
SJ7: not used clinically
LV6: acute cystitis, blood stagnation in the uterus and LowerJiao
GB36: painful obstruction and atrophy of the lower limbs
UB59: Yang Qiao mai, not used clinically
KD8: Yin Qiao mai, menstrual irregularities
KD9: Yin Wei mai, severe and acute mental disorders
GB35: Yang Wei mai, not used clinically
Mu-Front-Alarm Points: A Mu-Front-Alarm point is on the front of the body and located close to the organ with which it has a diagnostic relationship. Visual examination, obtaining certain reactions when pressing the point or spontaneous sensation at the point are all significant diagnostic information. This is why Mu is also translated as Alarm. Some historical texts point more to their usage as treating imbalances within the yang organs, while the Back-Shu points will treat imbalances within the Yin organs. Following are the Mu-Points.
| Lung | LU1 | Urinary Bladder | CV3 |
| Large Intestine | ST25 | Kidney | GB25 |
| Stomach | CV12 | Pericardium | CV17 |
| Spleen | LV13 | Triple Heater | CV5 |
| Heart | CV14 | Gall Bladder | GB24 |
| Small Intestine | CV4 | Liver | LV14 |
Shu-Back Points: The Shu-Back points are on the back on both branches of the Bladder channel. They are each named for an organ or body part and have the same diagnostic relationship with those parts as the Mu points have with the organs. Following are the Back-Shu Points.
| Lung | UB13 | Urinary Bladder | UB28 |
| Large Intestine | UB25 | Kidney | UB23 |
| Stomach | UB21 | Pericardium | UB14 |
| Spleen | UB20 | SanJiao | UB22 |
| Heart | UB15 | Gallbladder | UB19 |
| Small Intestine | UB27 | Liver | UB18 |
| Governing Vessel DU mai | UB16 | Diaphragm | UB17 |
| Qihai Sea of Qi | UB24 | Guanyuan Gate of Source | UB26 |
| Zhonglu Center Back Muscles | UB29 | Baihuan White Ring | UB30 |
| Gaohuang Vital Region | UB43 |
The Hui Meeting Points: also called the “Eight Influential Points” or the “Gathering Points.” Hui Meeting Points are a special set of points which have a broad effect on their related area, such as the Qi, Blood, Vessels, Bones. These are the Hui Meeting Points:
LV3: meeting of the yin organs, SP Mu
CV12: meeting of the yang organs, ST Mu
CV17: meeting of the Qi, PC Mu, moves Qi in the chest
UB17: meeting of the Blood, builds blood, resolves stagnation and disperses Heat in the Blood
GB34: meeting of the sinews, resolves stiffness and contracture
LU9: meeting of the Blood vessels, stimulates circulation, tonifies LU Qi, harmonizes Qi and Blood in the chest, stops bleeding
UB11: meeting of the bones, any bone disorder, osteoporosis
GB39: meeting of the marrow, bone disorders, mental functioning, useful post-stroke
| Zang | LV13 | Sinews | GB34 |
| Fu | CV12 | Vessels | LU9 |
| Qi | CV17 | Bones | UB11 |
| Blood | UB17 | Marrow | GB39 |
Command Points: the Command Points are individual points that have strong and broad effects on their related part of the body. They are used to treat imbalances in their designated areas from any etiology, such as Hot, Cold, Excess, Deficiency, and at either chronic or acute stages. After the original 4 command points commonly used in TCM, PC6 and GV26 were added.
| Abdomen | ST36 |
| Lumbar Region | UB40 |
| Head and Posterior Neck | LU7 |
| Face and Mouth | LI4 |
| Heart, Chest and Epigastrium | PC6 |
| Fainting and Collapse | GV26 |
Four Seas Points: the Four Seas are point groupings that have a strong effect on their related system of Qi, Blood, Marrow, and Digestion.
| Sea of Qi | ST9, CV17, GV15, GV14 |
| Sea of Blood | UB11, ST37, ST39 |
| Sea of Water and Grain | ST30, ST36 |
| Sea of Marrow | GV20, GV16 |
Window to the Sky Points: Window to the Sky points are all in the upper third of the body. In one diagnostic model this third of the body is likened to Heaven. If there is scanty flow of Qi between the upper third and lower thirds then a window must be opened to restore communication between Heaven and Earth. In another model these points are held to facilitate connection to one’s own spirit or to the spirit world thus reconnecting one to heaven.
| Renying | ST9 | Tiantu | CV22 |
| Futu | LI18 | Tianchuang | SI16 |
| Tianyou | SJ16 | Tianrong | SI17 |
| Tianzhu | UB10 | Fengfu | GV16 |
| Tianfu | LU3 | Tianchi | PC1 |
Thirteen Ghost Points (Sun Si Miao): the ghost points come from the Tang Dynasty 618─907AD publication from the Sun Simiao called Thousand Ducat Formulas. It arose as the culture was becoming more advanced and psychological illnesses became more prevalent. A systematic approach to the treatment of mental illness, or Kuan Dian.
| Ghost Palace | GV23 |
| Ghost Hall | GV26 |
| Ghost Pillow | GV16 |
| Ghost Market | CV24 |
| Ghost Faith | LU11 |
| Ghost Leg | LI11 |
| Ghost Heart | PC7 |
| Ghost Cave | PC8 |
| Ghost Bed | ST6 |
| Ghost Fortress | SP1 |
| Ghost Path | UB62 |
| Ghost Seal | Guifeng ─Extra Point on the underside of the tongue, one cun from the tip of the midline |
| Ghost Store | CV1 ─Originally described as Yumentou Extra Point – Women and Yinxiafeng Extra Point – Men |
Extraordinary Vessels Master – Couple Points: the extraordinary vessels run ‘behind’ the 12 main meridians. They interconnect with the 12 meridians and correspondingly allow for broad and deep effects within the body. 6 of the 8 extraordinary vessels have a master and coupled points on a pair of the main meridians. The Governing Vessel DU mai and the Conception Vessel REN mai have their own points. The Master point is needled first and the Couple point, second. For males the Master point is needled on the left and the Couple on the right. For females the Master point is needled on the right and the Couple, on the left.
| Extraordinary Vessel | Master | Couple |
| REN Mai Conception Vessel | LU7 | KD6 |
| DU Mai Governing Vessel | SP3 | UB62 |
| Chong Mai | SP4 | PC6 |
| Dai Mai | GB41 | SJ5 |
| Yin Qiao Mai | KD6 | LU7 |
| Yang Qiao Mai | UB62 | SI3 |
| Yin Wei Mai | PC6 | SP4 |
| Yang Wei Mai | SJ5 | GB41 |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ REFERENCE
-Personal classroom notes. 2005-2006.
-Peter Deadman & Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. A Manual of Acupuncture. 2007 by Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.
-Above Article Written by Dr. Osorio, Gloria DAOM, L.Ac. 2012.
