Point Indication Class 13 Extraordinary Vessels • The Conception vessel (Ren Mai) • Primarily treats reproductive and gynecological problems, abdominal and chest symptoms as well as general yin conditions. • • The Governing Vessel (Du Mai) Primarily treats pain in the spine, back and neck, and neurological problems as well as general yang conditions. • The Girdling Vessel (Dai Mai) encircles the body at the waist. It regulates the ascending and descending of qi and treats pain in the lower abdomen and back and leukorrhea. • The Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) regulates blood in the uterus and is used to treat gynecological and digestive problems as well as rebellious qi. Girdle Vessel Dai Mai Penetrating Vessel Chong Mai • The Yin and Yang Motility Vessels (Qiao Mai) regulate the opening and closing of the eyes and muscle balance in the lower body. • They treat musculoskeletal and neurological problems as well as sleep disturbances. • For example, the Yin Qiao treats medial leg spasm, somnolence and night seizures, and the Yang Qiao treats lateral leg spasm, insomnia and day seizures. Yang Motility Vessel Yang Qiao Mai Yin Motility Vessel Yin Qiao Mai • The Yin and Yang Linking Vessels (Wei Mai) connect all the Yin and Yang channels respectively. • The Yang Wei Mai treats problems similar to the Gallbladder Meridian and the Yin Wei Mai treats problems similar to the Pericardium Meridian. Yang Linking Vessel Yang Wei Mai Yin Linking Vessel Yin Wei Mai • Each vessel has a confluent point, which we have noted earlier. In some cases the confluent point is a point of intersection of the vessel with a regular channel, in some cases it is not. • The confluent points are often paired, and the pairs have specific areas of influence • Conception vessel (LU-7) is paired with the Yin Motility Vessel (KID-6) • Treats: Chest, diaphragm and throat • Penetrating Vessel (SP-4) is paired with the Yin Linking Vessel (P-6) • Treats: Stomach, heart and chest • Governing Vessel (SI-3) is paired with the Yang Motility Vessel (BL-62) • Treats: Inner canthus, neck, ear, shoulder, upper back • Girdling Vessel (GB-41) is paired with the Yang Linking Vessel (SJ-5) • Treats: Outer canthus, cheek, neck, back of ears and shoulder Sample Point Selection for TCM Patterns • This is a very simple methodology for constructing point combinations. It uses primarily very commonly-used points; other points with similar or more specialized functions may be substituted as you like. • Some points are marked with an asterisk (*); this means the point should be treated by moxibustion. Substance Patterns Qi • • • (Deficiency) ST36, SP6, REN6 (Stagnation) LR3, LR14, LI4 (Sinking Qi) DU20, ST36, REN6 Blood • (Deficiency) BL17*, SP6, BL20 • (Stasis) LR3, SP10, LI4 • (Heat) SP10, BL40 • Fluids: see Kidney Yin Deficiency • Jing: see Kidney Jing Deficiency • Shen: see Heart patterns Pathogen Patterns Wind • (Exterior) LI4, LU7, GB20, BL12 • (Interior) GB16, GB20, DU20, GB31 Cold • (Exterior) LI4, LU7, BL12 • (Interior) REN4*, REN12*, ST36* Heat • (Exterior) LI4, LI11, DU14 • (Interior) LI11, DU14 (XS); K3, K6 (Def) Damp • SP9, BL20, REN9; add LI11 if Damp Heat Summerheat • LI11, DU14; add SP9 if Damp Phlegm • SP9, ST40; add LI11 if Heat • (Lung) LU5 • (Heart) P5 Zang Fu Patterns Lung • (Exterior pattern) LI4, LU7; LI11, TB5 if Heat • (Phlegm) LU5, ST40; add LU10 if Heat • (Qi def) LU9, SP3, BL13 • (Yin def) LU5, LU9, K3 Heart / SI • (Qi def) H7, BL15, ST36 • (Blood def) H7, BL15, SP6, BL17* • (Yang def) K3, H5, SI4 • (Yin def) K3 (or K6), H6, BL15 • (Fire) H8, K6, REN14 ; (->SI add ST39, REN4) • (Blood Stasis) SP4, P6, P4, REN17 • (Phlegm) P5, ST40 Spleen / Stomach • (Qi def) SP3, SP6, ST36, BL20 • (Yang def) as above, add K7, BL23* • (Rebellious Qi) P6, ST36, REN12 • (ST Heat) ST44, ST34, REN12 Liver / GB • (Qi stag) LR3, LR14, GB34 • (Blood def) LR3, BL17*, SP6 • (Fire) LR2, GB43, SJ6 • (Yang rising) LR3, K3, DU20 • (GB Damp Heat) GB24, GB34, GB43 Kidney / BL • (Yang def) K3, BL23, DU4* • (Yin def) K3, K6, BL23 • (Qi def) K3, BL23, ST36 • (Jing def) K3, DU4, REN4 • (BL Damp Heat) REN3, SP9, BL28 Large Intestine • (Damp Heat) ST25, ST37, LI11, SP9 • (Cold) ST25*, BL25*, REN12*, ST37 • (Dry) TB6, SP6, ST25, KI6 Review for Final THE FIVE SHU POINTS Jing-well Points • Where the Qi of the Channel emerges • Restores consciousness • Clears Heat & Stagnation, especially from the opposite end of the channel • Calms the Spirit (Shen) • Treats fullness below the Heart Examples • Bleed all twelve jing-well points in for excess-type (Heat) collapse • LU-11 for acute sore throat and mumps. • HE-9 for Heart or chest pain • Several Jing-Well point indicated for mania Ying-spring Points • Where the Qi of the Channel “glides” • Clears heat from the channel/organ (fire & water point) • Effect on the opposite end of the channel (less than Jing-well) • Can substitute for Jing-well • Can combine w/Shu-stream to treat Zang Examples • LU-10 clears heat from the throat and/or Lung • KID-2 clears deficiency heat from the Kidneys • LIV-2 clears Liver fire • GB-43 clears heat from the GB channel. • ST-44 clears fire from the Stomach channel Shu-stream Points • Where Qi of the Channel begins to pour • Yin Channels: same as Yuan-source pts • Heaviness &/or pain of the joints • Combine w/ Ying-spring to treat the Yin organs • Yang Shu-stream: channel stagnation • Diseases which “come and go” - chronic Examples • LU-9, SP-3, HE-7, KID-3, LIV-3 all tonify their associated zang (Shu-stream + Yuan-source) • GB-41 disperses qi stagnation throughout the shaoyang channel • SI-3 for all disorders of the neck Jing-river Points • Qi of the Channel begins to flow heavily • Cough, Fever & Chills • Change in voice • Disorders of the muscles, tendons, bones, joints Examples • LU-8: cough, asthma, wheezing • HE-4: sudden loss of voice • BL-60: stiff neck, lumbar pain • LIV-4: contracted sinews, lumbar pain He-sea Points • Where the Qi of the Channel “unites with the sea” -- communicates with organs • Rebellious Qi, diarrhea, abnormal leakage of fluids • Skin diseases • Treats the Fu organs Examples • ST-36: every kind of Stomach or Spleen disease • SP-9: lack of appetite, diarrhea • L.I.-11: skin diseases, itching of the skin • LIV-8: itching of the genitals Mother-Child Points • AKA, “Tonification (Supplementation)” and • “Dispersion (Sedation) (Draining)” Points • Based on Five-Phase (Five-Element) theory, specifically Classic of Difficulties 69. • Most often applied to Yin channels Classic of Difficulties 69 • “In deficiency, tonify the Mother • In excess, drain the Child • Tonify first and then drain” • Mother Point = Point representing phase/ element preceding affected channel on Sheng (Generating cycle) • Example: Lung Deficiency: Tonify LU9 (Earth point on Metal Channel) • Child Point = Point representing phase/ element following affected channel on Sheng (Generating cycle) • Example: Lung Excess: Drain LU5 (Water point on Metal Channel) Mother-Child Points Channel Phase Mother (Tonification)Child (Dispersion) LU Metal LU9 LU5 LI Metal LI11 LI2 ST Earth ST41 ST45 SP Earth SP2 SP5 HT Fire HT9 HT7 SI Fire SI3 SI8 UB Water UB67 UB65 K Water K7 K1 PC Fire PC9 PC7 TB/SJ Fire TB3 TB10 GB Wood GB43 GB38 LR Wood LR8 LR2 YUAN-SOURCE POINTS • Each of the twelve primary channels has a yuan-source point where it is said the original qi surfaces and lingers. • On yin channels, the yuan-source points are the same as the shu-stream points. • “When the five zang are diseased, select the yuan-source points”, they are the primary point on the yin channels for this purpose. • On the yang channels their importance and indications they are quite different from the yuan-source points of the yin channels. • Their principal actions are to dispel various kinds of excess pathogenic factors and to treat disorders along the pathway of their respective channels. LUO CONNECTING POINTS • The actions of the luo-connecting points: • i. treating disorders of their interiorlyexteriorly related channel or zang-fu, • ii. treating disorders in regions reached by the luo-connecting channel • iii. treating psycho-emotional disorders. THE METHOD OF COMBINING THE YUAN-SOURCE AND LUOCONNECTING POINTS • Known as the ‘host and guest combination’ • The yuan-source point of the first or primarily affected channel is combined with the luo-connecting point of its interiorly-exteriorly coupled channel. Group Luo Points • Used in cases where all 3 yin or yang channels of the arm or leg are affected. • SJ 8 - 3 arm Yang (LI, SJ, SI) • PC 5 - 3 arm Yin (LU, PC, HE) • GB 39 - 3 leg Yang (ST, GB, BL) • SP 6 - 3 leg Yin (SP, LIV, KD) XI-CLEFT POINTS • Xi-cleft points in general are indicated in the treatment of acute conditions and pain. • Xi-cleft points of the yin channels have an additional action of treating disorders of blood. BACK-SHU POINTS • “the shu points are situated in the yang region, they may be used to treat yin diseases”- most practitioners use the back-shu points of the zang more frequently, while the front-mu points may be favored for diseases of the fu. • Back-shu points do not treat channel disorders; may be indicated in some disorders of the sense organs. FRONT-MU POINTS • Front-mu points have a wide application, including excess, deficiency, hot and cold patterns; they can be used diagnostically (as can the back-shu points). • The front-mu points their respective zangfu but not their respective channel. • The corresponding back-shu and front-mu points are also frequently combined in treatment. HUI-MEETING POINTS • LIV-13: hui-meeting point of the zang • REN-12: hui-meeting point of the fu • REN-17: hui-meeting point of the qi. • BL-17: hui-meeting point of blood. • GB-34: hui-meeting point of the sinews. • LU-9: hui-meeting point of the pulse and vessels. • BL-11: hui-meeting point of bone. • GB-39: hui-meeting point of marrow. LOWER HE SEA POINTS • Used to treat their respective fu organs. • Large Intestine ST 37 • Stomach ST 36 • Sanjiao BL 39 • Gall Bladder GB 34 • Small Intestine ST 39 • Urinary Bladder BL 40 FOUR AND SIX COMMAND POINTS • ST-36 - abdomen. • BL-40 - lumbar region and back. • LU-7 - head and nape. • L.I.-4 - face and mouth. • P-6 - chest and lateral costal region • DU-26 - resuscitation. FOUR GATES • Points: L.I.-4, LIV-3 • Common combination usually indicated for stagnation of Qi and/or Blood, with associated symptoms of pain and emotional stress. Hand Taiyin Lung Channel ZHONGFU LU-1*** • Front-Mu point of the Lung • ACTIONS: Disseminates and descends Lung qi, stops cough, transforms phlegm, clears heat, regulates the water passages, descends Stomach qi • INDICATIONS: Cough, turbid phlegm, wheezing, fullness/ pain of the chest, heat in the chest, difficult ingestion CHIZE LU-5**** • He-Sea and Water point • Dispersion (child) point • ACTIONS • Clears heat from the Lung, descends rebellious qi • Regulates the water passages • Activates the channel, alleviates pain • INDICATIONS • Cough &/or wheezing d/t heat or phlegmdamp, fullness of the chest, coughing blood, nosebleed, frequent urination, Bi pain of the elbow, arm, back or knee • Also used to strengthen Lung & Kidney relationship, e.g. Kidney not grasping qi KONGZUI LU-6*** • Xi-Cleft point • ACTIONS: Disseminates and descends Lung qi, clears heat and moistens the Lung, stops bleeding, moderates acute conditions • INDICATIONS: Cough (acute &/or with blood), wheezing, chest pain, throat swelling and pain, severe pain of elbow and upper arm, headache, hemorrhoids. LIEQUE LU-7***** • Luo-Connecting point • Confluent point of the Conception vessel • Command point • ACTIONS • Releases the exterior and expels wind • Promotes the Lung descending function • Pacifies wind and phlegm • Benefits the head and nape • Opens and regulates the Conception vessel • Regulates the water passages • Activates the channel and alleviates pain • INDICATIONS • Exterior Wind invasion: Chills and fever, nasal congestion, throat pain, cough, sweating, facial paralysis. • Headache and stiffness of the neck and nape • Luo vessel problems: Weakness or pain of the wrist and hand, pain of the thumb, shoulder pain. • Conception vessel* or Water passage problems: Post-partum, retention of lochia, bloody/hot/painful urination, edema. • * Conception vessel - frequently combined with KID-6 TAIYUAN LU-9**** • Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source and Earth point • Hui-Meeting point of the Vessels • ACTIONS: Tonifies the Lung, transforms phlegm, descends Lung Qi, regulates the vessels, activates the channel, alleviates pain • INDICATIONS • Qi Deficiency: Cough (esp weak or with watery phlegm), wheezing, shortness of breath, much yawning • Yin deficiency: Heat in the palms, dry throat, coughing blood • Irregular or faint pulse • Pain of the wrist, arm, shoulder, chest and back YUJI LU-10*** • Ying-Spring and Fire point • ACTIONS: Clears Lung heat, benefits the throat, descends rebellious qi • INDICATIONS: Cough (heat or w/blood), sore throat, loss of voice, fever, heat in the palm, vomiting, agitation. Hand Yangming Large Intestine Channel HEGU L.I.-4***** • Yuan-Source point, Command point of the face, Four Gates point • ACTIONS: Regulates the defensive qi and adjusts sweating, expels wind and releases the exterior, regulates the face, eyes, nose, mouth and ears, activates the channel and alleviates pain, induces labor, restores the yang • INDICATIONS: Exterior wind-cold (or wind-heat) pattern, copious sweating, absence of sweating. • Face / senses: Eye pain, nosebleed, nasal congestion, toothache in the lower jaw, mouth ulcers, swelling of the face, facial paralysis, deafness, tinnitus, sore throat, headache. • Amenorrhea, delayed labor, hypertension, Bi and Wei, hemiplegia. QUCHl L.I.-11***** • He-Sea and Earth point • Sun Si-miao Ghost point • ACTIONS: Clears heat, cools the blood, eliminates wind, drains damp and alleviates itching, regulates qi and blood, activates the channel and alleviates pain • Any Excess Heat pattern • Fever, thirst, sore throat, toothache, redness and pain of the eyes, agitation, mania, hypertension, dizziness. • Various skin disorders (esp d/t Heat), itching of the skin. • Intestinal complaints. • Bi & Wei patterns. JIANYU L.I.-15**** • Meeting point of the L.I. channel with the Yang Motility vessel • ACTIONS: Dispels wind-damp, alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder joint, eliminates wind, regulates qi and blood, dissipates phlegm nodules • INDICATIONS: Pain in shoulder & arms, motor impairment of upper limbs, WindHeat skin rashes, goiter, hypertension. YANGXI L.I.-5*** • Jing-River and Fire point • ACTIONS: Clears heat and alleviates pain, clears yangming fire, calms the spirit, benefits the wrist joint • INDICATIONS: Headache, rhinitis, nosebleed, redness pain and swelling of the eye, toothache, sore throat, fright, mania-depression, pain of the wrist. PIANLI L.I.-6*** • Luo-Connecting point • ACTIONS: Expels wind and clears heat, opens and regulates the water passages • INDICATIONS: Redness of the eye, edema (esp facial edema), difficult urination, tinnitus, deafness, nosebleed, pain of hand and arm, sore throat, manic depression. SHOUSANLI L.I.10*** • “Arm ST-36” • ACTIONS: Regulates qi and blood, activates the channel and alleviates pain, harmonizes the intestines and Stomach • INDICATIONS: Pain / immobility of the arm and shoulder, windstroke, hemiplegia, deviation of the mouth, abdominal pain, diarrhea, toothache, swelling of the cheek. YlNGXIANG L.I.-20*** • ACTIONS: Opens the nasal passages, expels wind and clears heat • INDICATIONS: Nasal congestion and discharge, nasal obstruction, nosebleed, deviation of the mouth, swelling and itching of the face, round worms in the bile duct. • Main local point for nose problems Foot Yangming Stomach Channel ZUSANLI ST-36***** • He-Sea and Earth point, Command point of the abdomen, Sea of Water and Grain Point • ACTIONS: Harmonizes the Stomach, fortifies the Spleen and resolves dampness, supports the correct qi and fosters original qi, tonifies qi and nourishes blood and yin, clears fire and calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain, revives the yang and restores consciousness • Stomach patterns • Spleen patterns • Qi & Blood Deficiency • ST channel: Breast, leg, hemiplegia, bi pain. • Mania, depression, fright • Hypertension FENGLONG ST40***** • Luo-Connecting point • ACTIONS: Transforms phlegm and dampness (Lung, Heart, etc), stops cough, calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain • INDICATIONS: Phlegm patterns: any Phlegm pattern. Most important point for Phlegm • ST channel problems: numbness, atrophy or pain of the lower limbs SHANGJUXU ST37**** • Lower He-Sea point, Sea of Blood Point • ACTIONS: Regulates the intestines and transforms stagnation, clears damp heat, alleviates diarrhea and dysentery, regulates the Spleen and Stomach, activates the channel and alleviates pain • INDICATIONS: Intestinal disorders, Qi deficiency, Leg problems NEITlNG ST-44**** • Ying-Spring and Water point • ACTIONS: Clears heat from the Stomach channel, alleviates pain, harmonizes the intestines, clears dampheat, calms the spirit • INDICATIONS: ST Fire: (channel) Toothache, pain or paralysis of face, sore throat, nosebleed, foot swelling and pain, hot-type skin problems. • (Fu) Epigastric pain, acid reflux, etc TIANSHU ST-25**** • Front-Mu point of the Large Intestine • ACTIONS: Regulates intestines, Spleen and Stomach, resolves dampness/dampheat, regulates qi & blood and eliminates stagnation • INDICATIONS: LI/SP/ST disorders • Qi & Blood stagnation, esp lower jiao • Damp. LIANGMEN ST-21*** • ACTIONS: Regulates qi and alleviates pain, harmonizes the middle jiao and transforms stagnation, raises the qi and stops diarrhea • INDICATIONS: Epigastric pain, vomiting, poor appetite, ab distention, diarrhea. • Mainly for acute excess stomach problems (such as LR -> ST). • JA: Stomach (L) / duodenal (R) ulcer reflex SHUIDAO ST-28*** • ACTIONS: Regulates the lower jiao and dispels stagnation, benefits the Bladder and the uterus • INDICATIONS: Damp stagnation & Blood stasis: Lower abdominal distension, retention of urine, edema, hernia, prostatitis, dysmenorrhea, uterine masses. GUILAI ST-29*** • ACTIONS: Warms the lower jiao, regulates menstruation and benefits the genital region • INDICATIONS: Retention of Cold in the uterus: Ab pain, ab masses hernia, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, leukorrhea, prolapse of the uterus, infertility. • Also for GYN disorders d/t Kidney yang def LIANGQIU ST-34*** • Xi-Cleft point of the Stomach channel • ACTIONS: Activates the channel, harmonizes the Stomach, alleviates pain, moderates acute conditions • INDICATIONS: Epigastric pain, acid reflux, mastitis, swelling and pain of the knee, motor impairment of the lower limbs. TIAOKOU ST-38*** • ACTIONS: Expels wind-damp and alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder • INDICATIONS: Frozen shoulder, pain or weakness of the lower limb. • Empirical for frozen shoulder XIAJUXU ST-39*** • Lower He-Sea point of the Small Intestine • Point of the Sea of Blood • ACTIONS: Moves Small Intestine qi, regulates the intestines, clears dampheat, activates the channel and alleviates pain • INDICATIONS: Low ab pain, backache referring to the testes, mastitis, diarrhea, dysentery, numbness and paralysis of the lower limbs. XIANGU ST-43*** • Shu-Stream and Wood point • ACTIONS: Regulates the Spleen, dispels edema, regulates and harmonizes the Stomach and intestines • INDICATIONS: Edema (body & face), ab pain, borborygmus, swelling and pain of the dorsum of the foot. Foot Taiyin Spleen Channel SANYINJIAO SP6***** • Meeting point of the Spleen, Liver and Kidney channels • ACTIONS: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, Resolves dampness, harmonizes the Liver and tonifies the Kidneys, Regulates menstruation and induces labour, harmonizes the lower jiao, Regulates urination and benefits the genitals, Calms the spirit, Invigorates blood, Activates the channel and alleviates pain • INDICATIONS: • Spleen and Stomach deficiency • OB / GYN • Andrology • Urinary • Palpitations, insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, hypertension. • Damp: Skin diseases, joint pain, swelling, etc YINLlNGQUAN SP9***** • He-Sea and Water point • ACTIONS: Regulates the Spleen and resolves dampness, opens and moves the water passages, benefits the lower jiao • INDICATIONS: Dampness: edema, swelling of the lower limbs, retention of urine, difficult urination, enuresis, qi painful urinary dysfunction, abdominal distention, diarrhea. DIJI SP-8**** • Xi-Cleft point of the Spleen channel • ACTIONS: Regulates menstruation and invigorates blood, harmonizes the Spleen and resolves dampness, moderates acute conditions • INDICATIONS: Dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, abdominal masses in women, abdominal pain and distension, difficult urination, edema. XUEHAI SP-10**** • ACTIONS: Invigorates the blood and dispels stasis, cools blood, harmonizes menstruation, benefits the skin • INDICATIONS: Blood disorders (esp stasis/heat): Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine bleeding, bloody urine. • Skin: Urticaria, eczema, herpes zoster, redness, pain and itching. GONGSUN SP-4**** • Luo-Connecting point, Confluent point of the Penetrating vessel • ACTIONS: Fortifies the Spleen, harmonizes the middle jiao, regulates qi, resolves dampness, calms the spirit, benefits the Heart and chest, regulates Penetrating vessel • INDICATIONS: Epigastric pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, maniadepression, insomnia and restlessness, Heart pain, irregular menstruation, GYN TAIBAI SP-3*** • Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source and Earth • ACTIONS: Tonifies the Spleen and resolves dampness and damp-heat, harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach, regulates qi • INDICATIONS: SP-ST Deficiency: abdominal distension, constipation, diarrhea, borborygmus, sluggishness, joint pains. DAHENG SP-15*** • ACTIONS: Moves qi and regulates the intestines • INDICATIONS: Constipation, abdominal pain and distension, diarrhea, dysentery.