Brief Introduction to Acupoints
Lecturer: QU Hongyan
Acupoints
General Introduction to acupoints
 1.
concept
 2. classification
 3. therapeutic properties
 4. specific points
 5. methods for locating acupoints
1. Basic concept of acupoints
The places for acupuncture and moxibustion,
also known as acupuncture points, acupoints or points,
are the specific sites where the qi of zang-fu organs
and channels is transported to the body surface.
Points are not only the reflecting places of
disorders but also the sites to receive the stimulation
by acupuncture and moxibustion.
2. Classification of Acupoints



Fourteen meridian points
Extraordinary points
A-shi points
Meridian points
 concept——have
fixed names and
locations; belong to fourteen
meridians.e.g. Hegu(LI4)、Zusanli(ST36) Go例
 features——they have definate names、
fixed locations and meridian tropism
 effect——treat the disorders of the
pertained meridians
Back
Extraordinary points
 concept——the
points that have definite
locations but have not been recognized
as points of the fourteen meridians have
specific names and effective indications.
e.g.Taiyang(EX-HN 5)、Shixuan(EX-UE 11)
GO
 features——definite
names, fixed location
 effect——have special therapeutic effect
to some disorders
Back
A-shi points
called “tender spots”,
“sensitive points”. These points have neither
specific names nor definite locations.
 features——they have no definate names、
fixed locations and meridian tropism
 effect——certain diseases
 concept——also
3. Therapeutic properties of acupoints
Local and adjacent properties
 Remote properties
 Special properties

（1）bi-directional beneficial regulation
（2）relative specificity
(1) Local and adjacent properties
 concept：all
acupoints can treat
disorders of nearby tissues and organs.
 examples：
ocular regions
upper abdomen
the knee
A-shi point——can treat the
localized disorders of itself
(2)Remote properties
 concept：the
meridian points, especially
those of the 12 meridians located below
the elbow and knee joints, are also
effective for disorders of the tissues and
zang-fu organs so far as the course of
their pertaining meridians can effect.
e.g.the five-shu points
 basis：“the indications of points extend to
where their pertinent meridians reach”。
 examples：
Hegu(LI 4)
Zusanli(ST 36)
(3)Special properties
 concept：some
points have certain special
effects such as bi-directional regulation,
general regulation, and other specific
actions.
 basis：clinical practice
 examples：
Tianshu(ST 25)、Neiguan(PC 6)
Dazhui(GV14)、Zhiyin(BL67)
4. Specific points
Specific points refer to those points of the fourteen
channels that have special therapeutic effects and are
specifically named under certain categories.
the commonly used specific points are Five Transport
points, Yuan-Source points, Luo-Connecting points, XiCleft points, Back-Shu points, Front-Mu points, Lower-He
Sea points, Eight Influential points, Eight Confluent points
and Crossing points.
Five transport points
Five transport points refer to five groups of points
distributed distally to the elbow or knee joints, namely JingWell, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea.
The terms and locations of the Five transport points were
stated in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).
Yuan-Source points
”Yuan” means source or original qi, which is the
original power of vital activities. The term of the YuanSource points was first mentioned in Ling Shu (Spiritual
Pivot).
Yuan-Source points are a group of regular channel
points located near the wrist or ankle, and these are the
places where the original qi of zang-fu organs and
channels passes and gathers.
Luo-Connecting points
Luo-Connecting points are the sites where the Fifteen
Collaterals branch out from the channels (including the
Governor Vessel and Conception Vessel).
”Luo” means connecting.The term of the LuoConnecting points was first recorded in Ling Shu (Spiritual
Pivot). They are called“ Fifteen Luo-Connecting points”.
Xi-Cleft points
“Xi” means hollow or cleft. Xi-Cleft points are
situated at the sites where the channel-qi is deeply
converged and accumulated in the limbs. The term
of the Xi-Cleft points was first mentioned in the
ABC Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.
Most Xi-Cleft points are situated distal to the
elbow or knee joints.
How many Xi-Cleft
points in
human body?
Back-Shu points
Back-Shu points are the corresponding points on the
back where the qi of the respective zang-fu organs infused.
The term of Back-Shu points was first recorded in Ling Shu
(Spiritual Pivot).
All these Back-Shu points are situated on the first
lateral line of the Bladder meridian of Foot-Taiyang, and
are longitudinally distributed roughly according to the
anatomic position of the zang-fu organs.
Front-Mu points
“Mu” means converging and recruiting. Front-Mu points
are a group of regular meridian points located on the chest
and abdomen where the qi of the respective zang-fu
organs infuses and converges.
The term for the Front-Mu points was first stated in Su
Wen (Plain Questions). Each of six zang and six fu-organs
has one Front Mu point which are situated close to their
corresponding zang or fu-organs.
Lower He-Sea points
Lower He-Sea points, also called Lower HeSea points of six fu-organs, refer to the six points
where the qi of the six fu-organs pours downward
toward the three yang meridians of the foot.
The term for the Lower He-Sea points was first
recorded in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot). There are
six Lower He-Sea points in total.
Eight Influential points
The Eight Influential Points refer to the eight points
which are the gathering places for the zang-organs, fuorgans, qi, blood, tendon, vessel, bone and marrow
respectively. The term of Eight Influential Points was first
recorded in Nan Jing (Difficult Classic).
The Eight Influential Points are distributed on the trunk
and the four limbs, amongst which the Influential Points of
the zang-organs, fu-organs, qi, blood and bone are located
on the trunk, while those of the tendon, vessel and marrow
are on the four limbs.
Eight Confluent points
Eight confluent points refer to the eight points
on the four limbs where the twelve regular
channels communicate with the eight extra
meridians.
The term was first stated in Zhen Jing Zhi Nan
(Guidance to Acupuncture Classic). Eight
Confluent points are distributed distal to the wrist
or the ankles.
Rules for the point indication
1. Rules of indication in channels
The meridian points on the four limbs have special
therapeutic effects for the disorders of the head, trunk
and zang-fu organs. These are the foundation for point
indications according to channel distribution, and the
origin of the therapeutic rules of so-called “four roots
and three tips” summarized by ancient doctors.
Rules for the point indication
2. Rules of indication according to the
physical region



The points in head, face, neck and trunk take the local and
adjacent effect as the principal factor
Points in chest and abdomen and in waist and back can
treat the disorders of corresponding part and zang-fu
organs, while the latter can also treat the diseases of lower
limbs.
Points above the elbows and knees and below the elbows
and knees can treat the local disorders, while the latter can
also treat the diseases of distant areas, general disorders
such a fever, unconsciousness.
5. Methods for Locating Acupoints
 Bone-length
proportional measurement
 Measurement with Anatomic Landmarks
 Finger measurement
 Simplified measurement
(1)Bone-length proportional measurement
 concept：It
locates acupoints by means of
respectively dividing the width or length of
various portions of the human body into
definite numbers of equal units, as the
standard for measurement.
 merits：scientific and practical—applicable
for different ages, sexes, and body sizes.
the commonly used are as follows:
分部
部位起点
常用骨度
度量法
说明
头部
前发际至后
发际
12寸
直量
如前后发际不明，从眉心量至大椎穴作18寸。眉心至前发际3寸，
大椎至后发际3寸
两乳头之间
8寸
横量
胸剑联合至
脐中
8寸
脐中至趾骨
联合上缘
5寸
大椎以下至
尾骶
21椎
腋前纹头至
肘横纹
9寸
肘横纹至腕
横纹
12寸
耻骨上缘至
股骨内上踝
上缘
18寸
胫骨内髁下
缘至内踝尖
13寸
股头大转子
至膝中
19寸
膝中至外踝
尖
16寸
胸腹部
背腰部
上肢部
下肢部
直量
胸部与胁肋部取穴直寸，一般根据肋骨计算，每一肋两穴间作1
寸6分
直量
背部直寸根据脊椎定穴，肩胛骨下角相当第七（胸）椎，髂嵴相
当第十六椎（第四腰椎棘突）。背部横寸以两肩胛内缘作6寸
直量
用于手三阴、手三阳经的骨度分寸
直量
用于足三阴经的骨度分寸
直量
用于足三阳经的骨度分寸；“膝中”前面相当犊鼻穴，后面相当
委中穴；臀横纹至膝中，作14寸折量
back
head、chest
The lateral
Lower limbs
continue
back
Back
back
back
(2) Measurement with Anatomic Landmarks
concept：locating
by referring
to the anatomic landmarks on
the body surface.
types：
fixed anatomic landmarks
moving landmarks
(3)Finger measurement
Concept：using
the length and
width of the patient’s finger (s) as a
standard to locate points.
 Types：middle finger measurement
thumb measurement
four-finger measurement
(4) Simplified Measurement
It is a simple method used to
locate points.
For instance, when the patient
stands erect with the hands close
to the legs, Fengshi(GB 31)is
where the tip of the middle finger
touches the leg.