POINT LOCATION I
General Introduction
What are points?
What are Acupuncture Points
Traditional Chinese Perspective
 Specific areas on the body surface
(skin) by which Qi and Blood are
transported
 Reflect the functional condition of the
body
 Capable of receiving stimulation to
prevent and treat disease
What are Acupuncture Points
Modern Scientific Perspective
 Neurological Pathways: Studies show that
acupuncture stimulate all parts of the nervous
system.
 Electrical Characteristics: Measuring the
electrical resistance or the current flowing
across the acupoints with a pre-determined
voltage. Studies show that acupuncture points
have a lowered electrical resistance or an
increase in current.
What are Acupuncture Points
Modern Scientific Perspective
 Radio-Active Tracer Studies: The use of
radioactive tracers to study acupuncture
points and meridians shows that they are
neither vascular nor lymphatic in origin,
but are related to connective tissues
interstitial spaces which would constitute a
preferred ionic pathway.
The History of
Acupuncture Points
Origins
 4000—8000 years ago
 Painful, tender areas that when
pressed produce relief
 Reactions on areas of the body during
disease
 Anatomical landmarks: Blood vessels,
ligaments, tendons & muscles, bone
Development &
the Historical Record
 Originated as early as in the clan commune period
of the primitive society.
 Acupuncture instruments were made of stone and were
named “bian stone.”
 Needles were made of stone.
 To incise abscess, drain pus and let blood out for
therapeutic purposes.
 3,000 years ago in the Shang Dynasty
 The hieroglyphs of acupuncture and moxibustion
appeared in the inscriptions on bones and tortoise
shells.
Development &
the Historical Record
 Eleven vessels of foot and hand and
Eleven vessels of yin and yang (before
the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic)
 Records 6 foot vessels and 5 hand
vessels;
 Records areas for moxibustion and
blood-letting with stone needles.
Development &
the Historical Record
 Fifty-two Prescriptions (Wu Shi Er Bing Fang)
(before the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic)
 Three tombs of early Western Han Dynasty were excavated
at Mawangdui in the eastern outskirts of Changsha in 1972.
 Silk manuscript Prescriptions for Fifty-two Diseases found in
Tomb No. 3, 52 diseases were recorded together with over
100 specifications of diseases.
 With over 280 prescriptions and 240 drugs recorded in the
book, it is the earliest prescription book ever found in China.
 It recorded areas on the body for moxibustion and
bloodletting.
The General Theory &
Classification of Points
Relationship between Points and Viscera
and Channels-Collaterals
 Viscera-channels-points
Channels and Collaterals (Jing Luo)
 Channels (Meridians ) are the carriers for qi/blood.
 Jing = channels. Geographical connotations: like water
channel or pathway. Bigger branches, like large rivers. Run at
a relatively deep level, connect with zangfu
characteristics:
 1. main trunks
 2. usually run longitudinally
 3. usually go very deep inside body.
 4. will connect to interior organs.
 Twelve Primary Channels ---- 十二正经
 Twelve Divergent Channels ---- 十二经别
 Luo = “to attach” or “net”. Collaterals. Interlock the
channels. Smaller tributaries, like creeks. Run more
superficially.
 characteristics:
 1.branches
 2.run transversely, i.e., to all other directions not just
longitudinally
 3.more superficial.
 4. do not directly connect to interior organs.
 Fifteen Luo-Connecting collaterals ---- 十五络
 Minute Collaterals ---- 孙络
12 regular channels
 6 yang channels
Yang channels are connected to yang (fu) organ
Located primarily in a yang area of the body
(Exception: stomach channel)
 §
3 hand yang channels
(hand channels end or begins at a finger and most of
the channel runs on the upper limb)
 §
3 foot yang channels
(foot channels end or begin at a toe and most of
channel runs on lower limb)
 6 yin channels
Yin channels are connected to yin (zang) organ
Located primarily in a yin area of the body.
 §
3 hand yin channels
(hand channels end or begins at a finger and most of
the channel runs on the upper limb)
 §
3 foot yin channels
(foot channels end or begin at a toe and most of
channel runs on lower limb)
Three Hand Yin Channels:
 Hand Tai-Yin Lung Channel
 Hand Jue-Yin Pericardium Channel
 Hand Shao-Yin Heart Channel
Three Hand Yang Channels:
 Hand Yang-Ming Large Intestine Channel
 Hand Shao-Yang San-Jiao Channel
 Hand Tai-Yang Small Intestine Channel
Three Foot Yin Channels:
 Foot Tai-Yin Spleen Channel
 Foot Jue-Yin Liver Channel
 Foot Shao-Yin Kidney Channel
Three Foot Yang Channels:
 Foot Yang-Ming Stomach Channel
 Foot Shao-Yang Gallbladder Channel
 Foot Tai-Yang Urinary Bladder Channel
The eight extraordinary vessels
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Governing Vessel ---- Du Mai
Conception / Directing Vessel ---- Ren Mai
Thoroughfare / Penetrating Vessel ---- Chong Mai
Belt / Girdling Vessel ---- Dai Mai
Yin-Heel / Yin-Motility Vessel ---- Yin-Qiao Mai
Yang-Heel / Yang-Motility Vessel ---- Yang-Qiao
MaiYin-Linking Vessel ---- Yin-Wei Mai
 Yang-Linking Vessel ----Yang-Wei Mai
Twelve Sinew Channels(十二经筋):Smaller channels gathering
around joints/sinews.
Twelve Cutaneous Regions (十二皮部):12 of them. Very
superficial, shallow, cover where 12 regular Meridians pass
through. Aren’t a line or meridian, but regions
Please note: 14 Channels: The Twelve Primary Channels plus
Ren Mai and Du Mai are called ‘14 Channels’. They are the
major channels throughout the body and have been used
widely in clinical practice.
The General Theory &
Classification of Points
Classification of Points
 Jing or “channel” points (Acupuncture
Points of the Fourteen Channels)
 Characteristics: Have a pertaining channel,
name, and specific location
 Number: There are 361 Jing points in total.
The General Theory &
Classification of Points
Classification of Points
 Extra points
 Characteristics: Have a name and a specific location but
no pertaining channel.
 Classification: Extra points that are situated on the
course of channels; Extra points that are not situated on
the course of the channels.
 Number: 45 Extra points accepted by the WHO;
historically the number varies from 20-200.
The General Theory &
Classification of Points
Classification of Points
 Ashi points
 Characteristics: Having no pertaining channel,
no name and no specific location.
 Number: Countless.
Nomenclature of Points
Point Names
 Reflecting Naturalistic Imagery
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Quchi (LI 11, Crooked Pond)
Shaohai (HT 3, Young Sea)
Hegu (LI 4, Joining Valleys)
Taiyuan (LU 9, Supreme Abyss)
 Bearing Analogy to Animals
 Yuji (LU 10, Fish Border)
 Dubi (ST 35, Calf Nose)
 Yuyao (Extra Point, Fish Waist)
Nomenclature of Points
Point Names
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Bearing Analogy to Architectural Structures
Shenmen (HT 7, Spirit Gate)
Neiting (ST 44, Inner Courtyard)
Jianjing (GB 21, Shoulder Well)
Fengshi (GB 31, Wind Market)
Bearing Analogy to Astronomical in Meteorological
Phenomena
Riyue (GB 24, Sun and Moon)
Taibai (SP 3, Venus)
Fengchi (GB 20, Wind Pool)
Taiyang (Extra Point, Supreme/Sun Yang)
Nomenclature of Points
 Points Named According to
Anatomical Terms
 Jianyu (LI 15, Shoulder Corner)
 Ruzhong (ST 17, Middle of Breast)
 Erjian (Extra Point, Tip of Ear)
Their Therapeutic Properties
 Jingming (BL 1, Brighten Eyes)
 Yingxiang (LI 20, Welcome Fragrance)
 Anmian (Extra Point, Peaceful Sleep)
Nature of Points
According to the Yin-Yang & Five Elements
Schemes
 Points and Yin-Yang
 Based on channels: points situated on the yang
channels are more yang in nature while those
situated on the yin channels are more yin in
nature.
 Based on locations: points located in the yang
portion of the body are yang points while
located in the yin portion of the body are yin
points.
Nature of Points
According to the Yin-Yang & Five
Elements Schemes
 Points and the Five Elements
 All points have a general Five Element nature
corresponding to the Five Element nature of the
channels. In other words, since the Five Element nature
of the channels corresponds to the Five Element nature
of their pertaining viscera or bowels, then the Five
Element nature of the points corresponds the Five
Element nature of their pertaining channels. Therefore:
Nature of Points
According to the Yin-Yang & Five
Elements Schemes
 Points and the Five Elements
 points on the Lung channel and the Large Intestine
channel belong to Metal
 points in the Stomach channel and the Spleen channel
belong to Earth
 points on the Heart channel and the Small Intestine
channel belong to Fire
 points on the Kidney channel and the Bladder channel
belong to Water
 points on the Liver channel and the Gallbladder channel
belong to Wood
Nature of Points
According to the Yin-Yang & Five Elements
Schemes
 Points and the Five Elements
 In addition, the Five-Shu points are endowed with the nature of Five
Elements:
 For the yang channels: Jing-well —Metal, Ying-spring—Water,
Shu-stream—Wood, Jing-river—Fire, He-sea–Earth
 For the yin channels: Jing-well —Wood, Ying-spring—Fire, Shustream—Earth, Jing-river—Metal, He-sea–Water
POINT LOCATION I
Function of points
Function of Points
Transport Qi and Blood
 points--collaterals--channels--Zangfu
Function of Points
Reflect dysfunction of the body
 Abnormal sensation: tender, sensitivity, cold,
warm
 Change of shape: node, rash, strip-like things,
prominent, depression, swelling
 Abnormal color: red, white, green-blue, purple
 Change of electrical properties: especially at the
Yuan-Source and Jing-Well points
 Change of the skin temperature: higher or lower
Function of Points
Assist in diagnosis
Danlang Xue (Cholecystitis) ,
Lanwei Xue (Appendicitis)
Function of Points
Examination methods
 Inspection: color, rashes, change of
shape, decortication
 Inquiry: special sensation: pain,
numbness, sore, swelling, cold, hot
 Palpation: pressing
 Measurement with instrument:
electrical resistance, electrical
potential, temperature
Function of Points
Prevention and treatment of disease
 Prevention of disease: ST 36, RN 4, 6, 8,
DU 4, DU 14, LI 4
 Treatment of disease: WHO
acknowledges that 43 different
diseases can be effectively treated with
acupuncture
Therapeutic Properties of Points
Local and adjacent therapeutic effects
•A common therapeutic effect for all kinds of points (Jing
points, Extra points, Ashi points).
Remote therapeutic effects
•A common therapeutic effect for all Jing-points and some
Extra points, especially the specific points.
Therapeutic Properties of Points
 Specific therapeutic effects
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Jing-well points for acute disorders
Ying-Sping points for fever
Back Shu: Zang Disorders
Front-Mu points and Lower He-Sea points for disorders of the Fu-organs
DU 14 and DU 20: fever, mental problems
GB20, Taiyang: Head disorders
ST 36, RN 4: general deficiency of the body
ST 38: Shoulder Problems
BL 67: malposition of the fetus (moxibustion during third trimester)
RN 9 & KI 7: Regulate water passageways, Edema
ST 36: increase the secretion of the gastric acid
SP 4, PC 6 and ST 34: inhibit the secretion of gastric acid
LI 4 and ST 44: toothache
SP 1: Bleeding Disorders
Therapeutic Properties of Points
 Specific therapeutic effects
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LI 11: Hypertension
BL 18: lower the level of blood sugar
BL 17: increase the level of blood sugar, blood diseases of TCM
BL 40: Skin Diseases
BL 57 and Erbai: Hemorrhoids
PC 6: Nausea
HT 6, KI 6: Night Sweating
SI 1: Absence of lactation
DU9: Jaundice
DU 10: Lymphangitis
DU 14, Erjian: Fever
Anmian: Insomnia
Dingchuan: Asthma
Shiqizhuixia: Painful menses
POINT LOCATION I
Specific Points
Specific Points
“Points with Specific Therapeutic
Effects.”
Specific Points
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6.
7.
8.
Five shu points
Yuan-source points
Luo-Connecting points
Back-shu points and front-mu points
Xi-cleft points
Eight influential points
lower He-sea points
Eight confluent points and the intersecting
points.
Five-Shu Points
“Transporting Points”
Definition and Names of the Five-Shu
Points:
 Is the place where the Qi flows like a river
from the extremity to the elbows and knees.
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1. Jing-Well: Qi Emanates
2. Ying-Spring: Qi Glides
3. Shu-Stream: Qi Pours
4. Jing-River: Qi Flows
5. He-Sea: Qi Enters Inwards
Distribution of the Five-Shu Points: Below the
Elbow and knee joints
Yuan-Source Points 原穴
Definition:
 The points where the Yuan Qi (Original
Qi) of the Zang-fu organs “Surfaces,
Resides or Lingers and Passes
Through.”
 The Yuan-Source Points of the Yin
Channels are also the Shu-Stream
Points of the Yin Channels.
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
 Treating disease of the corresponding
Zang-fu organs
 Assist in making diagnosis: “Disease
will appear at the Yuan-Source Points”
GB 40 for cholecystitis
HT 7 for coronary heart disease
Luo-Connecting Points 络穴
Definition
 The points connecting two channels
exterior-interiorly related
 The Luo-Connecting Channels separate
from the primary channels.
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
 Treating disorders of their pertaining channels and
Zang-Fu organs
 Treating disorders of their interiorly-exteriorly
related channels or Zang-fu organs. For example,
LU7 is used to treat toothache and headache
 Treating disorders of their corresponding
collaterals. For example, HT5 is used to treat
fullness of the chest (excess) and dysphasia
(deficient)
 Chronic Disease (Same Channel)
 Mental and emotional disorders
Xi-Cleft Points 郄穴
Definition
 The point is where Qi and blood of
channels “Gather and Plunge Deeper
into the Body.”
Xi-Cleft Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
 Xi cleft-points: severe and intractable
disease, especially acute ones
 Xi-cleft of the Yin Channels: Blood
Disorders
 Xi-cleft of the Yang Channels: Acute
Disorders and Pain Disorders
Back-Shu Points 背俞穴
Definition
 Points on the back where the Qi of Zang-Fu
organs is infused
 (Shu means “to Transport” + Zang Fu name)
 Classic of Difficulties: “Disease of Yin, treat
the Yang”
Back-Shu Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
 Disorders of corresponding Zang-Fu
organs
 Disorders of the tissues and orifices
related to their corresponding Zang-Fu
organs
 Assisting diagnosis making: Points lie
relatively at the same anatomical level
as the pertaining Zang-Fu Organ.
Front-Mu Points 募穴
Definition
 Points on the chest and abdomen
where the Qi of the Zang-Fu organs is
“Infused and Converged” or “Gather
and Concentrate” on the anterior
surface of the body.
 Close to related organs
Front-Mu Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects
 Disorders of corresponding Zang-Fu
organs, especially the Fu-organs
 “Needling can deeply reach the Fu
Organs.”
Point Combination
 Combined with the Back-Shu points
 Combined with the He-Sea points
Lower He-Sea Points 下合穴
Definition
 •Six points on the lower extremities
where the Qi from the six Fu Organs
communicates with the three foot-yang
channels.
 •The three-foot yang channels Lower
He-Sea Points are the same as the HeSea Points
Lower He-Sea Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
 Disorders of the six Fu-organs
Point Combination
 Combined with the Front-Mu points
Eight Influential Points 八会穴
“8 Hui Points”
Definition
 The Qi of the Zang-organs, Fu-organs,
Qi, blood, sinews, vessels, bone and
marrow is converged.
Eight Influential Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
Disorders of corresponding viscera or
tissues
 RN 12: stomachache, abdominal
distention, borborygmus, vomiting,
dysentery, and jaundice, especially the
disease of the stomach and intestines
Eight Influential Points
 LR 13: abdominal distention,
borborygmus, hypochondriac pain,
and cold pain of the back, especially
the disease of the liver and spleen
 GB 34: weakness, numbness and/or
pain of the lower limbs, hypochondriac
pain, bitter taste and vomiting
 GB 39: stroke, paralysis, pain of the
lower limbs
Eight Influential Points
 BL 11: pain of the scapulae, neck, and
back
 BL 17: disorders of blood, such as
anemia and purpura
 RN 17: oppression of the chest, asthma,
belching, cough, pain of the chest and
heart
 LU 9: chest Bi-syndrome, pain of the
heart, asthma
Eight Confluent Points
(“Confluence Points of the Eight Vessels”)
八脉交会穴
Definition
 Eight points where Qi of the eight extra
vessels communicates with the twelve
regular channels.
Eight Confluent Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
Disorders of corresponding:
 Regular Channels
 Extra Vessels
Eight Confluent Points
Point Combination
Combination of the upper and the lower:
 SP 4 + PC 6
 SJ 5 + GB 40
 SI 3 + BL 62
 LU 7 + KI 6
Crossing Points 交会穴
Definition
 Points where two or more channels
meet
Origin
 The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic
 Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and
Moxibustion
Crossing Points
 Around 103 crossing points are recorded in the
ancient medical works. Examples include:
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ST 7 (Xiaguan): ST+GB
ST 30 (Qichong): ST+Chong vessel
SP 6 (Sanyinjiao): SP+LR+KI
GB 20 (Fengchi): GB+Yang Linking Vessel
RN 4 (Guanyuan): RN+SP+LR+GB
RN 3 (Zhongji): RN+SP+LR+GB
RN 2 (Qugu): RN+LR
RN 1 (Huiyin): RN+DU+Chong
DU 20 (Baihui): DU+BL; DU+three hand and foot yang channels
DU 16 (Fengfu): DU+Yang Linking Vessel
DU 14 (Dazhui): DU+three hand and foot yang channels
Crossing Points
Specific Therapeutic Effects:
 Disorders of the channels crossing at
these points