
Most of the special acupeints are located below the elbows or knees with special names and theory. They are frequently used in clinical treatment with specific methods.
4. 3. 3. 1 The Five-Shu acupoints
There are five acupoints on the twelve main meridians located below the elbows and knees, Namely Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea located on every meridian respectively. Altogether there are 60 such acupoints. Clinically Jing-Well is used to treat mental diseases, febrile diseases and emergent ca-ses; Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea are used to treat the diseases located on regions over which the meridians run along the surface of the body. The Shu-Stream acupoints on the yin meridians are used to treat disorders of the zang organs while the He-Sea acupoints on the yang meridians are used to treat disorders of the fu or-gans. In addition, the selection of the Five-Shu acupoints can be made according to the combination of the Five-Shu acupoints with the five elements for the treatment of dis-eases in the light of the theory "reducing the Child-acu-point to treat sthenia syndrome and reinforcing the Moth-er-acupoint to treat asthenia syndrome" according to the inter-restraining and inter-promoting relation ships be-tween the meridians and acupoints. The combination of yin meridians and yang meridians with the five elements is shown in Table 4 - 1 and 4 - 2.
1 The Five-Shu acupoints on the Yin Meridians
|
Meridian |
Jing-Well |
Ying-Spring(Fire) |
Shu-Stream |
Jing-River |
He-Sea |
|
Lung |
(LU 11) | (LU 10) |
|
Jingqu |
(LU 5) |
|
Pericardium |
(PC 9) | (PC 8) | (PC 7) |
Jianshi |
(PC 3) |
|
Heart |
(HT 9) | (HT 8) | (HT 7) | (HT 4) | (HT 3) |
|
Spleen |
(SP 1) | (SP 2) | (SP 3) | (SP 5) | (SP 9) |
|
Liver |
Dadun |
(LR 2) | (LR 3) | (LR 4) | (LR 8) |
|
Kidney |
(KI 1) | (KI 2) | (KI 3) | (KI 7) | (KI 10) |
Table 4 – 2 The Five-shu Acupoints on the Yang Meridians
|
Zang Organ |
Back-Shu |
Front-Mu |
Fu Organ |
Back-Shu |
Front-Mu |
|
Lung |
Feishu |
Zhongfu |
Stomach |
Weishu |
Zhongwan |
|
Pericardium |
Jueyinshu |
Tanzhong |
Gallbladder |
Danshu |
Riyue |
|
Heart |
Xinshu |
Juque |
Large |
Dachangshu |
Tianshu |
|
Liver |
Ganshu |
Qimen |
Small |
Xiaochangshu |
Guanyuan |
|
Spleen |
Pishu |
Zhangmen |
Bladder |
Pangguangshu |
Zhongji |
|
Kidney |
Shenshu |
Jingmen |
Triple |
Sanjiaoshu |
Shimen |
4. 3. 3. 2 Application of Yuan-Source acu-points and Luo-Connecting acupoints
4.3.3.2.1 The Yuan-Source acupoints are located in the vicinity of the wrists and ankles. Each meridian has one Yuan-Source point. Altogether there are 12 Yuan-Source acupoints which are closely related to the zang-fu organs and are the points where visceral qi is infused via triple energizer. Therefore, the disorder of zang-fu or-gans can be manifested on the Yuan-Source acupoints and can be treated by needling Yuan-Source acupoints. The Yuan-Sonrce acupoints on the yang meridians are located posterior to the Shu-Stream acupoints, but the Yuan-Source acupoints on the yin meridians are just the Shu-Stream acupoints. (see Table 4 - 3)
Table 4 – 3 The Yuan-Source Acupoints and Luo-Connecting Acupoints
|
Meridian |
Yuan |
Luo |
Meridian |
Yuan |
Luo |
Meridian |
Luo |
|
Hand-Taiyin |
Taiyuan |
Lieque |
Hand |
Hegu |
Pianli |
Conception |
Jiuwei |
|
Hand-jueyin |
Daling |
Neiguan |
Hand |
Yangchi |
Waiguan |
Governor |
Changqiang |
|
Hand-Shaoyin |
Shenmen |
Tongli |
Hand |
Wangu |
Zhizheng |
Spleen |
Dabao |
|
Foot-Taiyin |
Taibai |
Gongsun |
Foot |
Chongyang |
Fenglong |
||
|
Foot-jueyin |
Taichong |
Ligou |
Foot |
Qiuxu |
Guangming |
||
|
Foot-shaoyin |
Taixi |
Dazhong |
Foot |
Jinggu |
Feiyang |
4.3.3.2.2 Luo-Connecting acupoints are situated at the places where the twelve regular meridians, the conception and governor vessels are distributed. Each has one Luo-Connecting acupoint and the spleen has another major Luo-Connecting acupoint. So altogether there are 15 Luo-Connecting acupoints. The Luo-Connecting acu-points function to connect the meridians internally and ex-ternally related to each other and are used to treat disor-ders of such pairs of meridians. The Luo-Connecting acu-points on the conception and governor vessels as well as the major Luo-Connecting acupoint of spleen are mainly used to treat diseases of the trunk (see Table 4 - 3). Back-Shu Front-Mu Back-Shu Front-Mu Feishu Zhongfu Weishu Zhongwan Jueyinshu Tanzhong Danshu Riyue Xinshu Juque Large Dachangshu Tianshu Ganshu Qimen Small Xiaochangshu Guanyuan Pishu Zhangmen Pangguangshu Zhongji Shenshu Jingmen Triple Sanjiaoshu Shimen
4. 3.3.2.3 In clinical treatment, the Yuan-source acupoints and Luo-Connecting acupoints may be used inde-pendently or in combination. The method for the combina-tion of Yuan-source and Luo-Connecting acupoints is to se-lect the corresponding Yuan-source acupoint of the viscus primarily involved and the corresponding Luo-Connecting acupoint of the viscus secondarily involved. Usually this method is to deal with the disorders involving the meridi-ans Liangqiu (ST 34), the Xi-Cleft acupoint of the stomach meridian, is selected to treat acute stomachache.
4. 3. 3. 3 Application of Back-Shu and Front-Mu acupoints
4.3.3.3.1 Back-Shu acupoints are located on the back while Front-Mu acupoints are located on the chest and abdomen. Each zang organ and fu organ has one Back-Shu and one Front-Mu acupoint respectively. These acu-points are the areas where visceral qi infuses. So tender-ness can be found on these areas when pathological chan-ges have taken place in the viscera. Back-Shu and Front-Mu acupoints can be used to treat visceral diseases and Back-Shu acupoints can also be used to treat disorders of tissues and organs pertaining to the corresponding viscer-a. For example, Ganshu (BL 18) may be chosen to treat eye or tendon disorders. (see Table 4 - 4)
Table 4 – 4 The Back-Shu and Front-Mu Acupoints of the Twelve Zang-fu Organs
Acupoint
Acupoint
Acupoint
Acupoint
(BL 3)
(LU 1)
(BL 21)
(CV 12)
(BL 14)
(CV 17)
(BL 19)
(GB 24)
(BL 15)
(CV 14)
Intestine
(BL 25)
(ST 25)
(BL 18)
(LR 14)
intestine
(BL 27)
(CV 4)
(BL 20)
(LR 13)
(BL 28)
(CV 3)
(BL 23)
(GB 25)
energizer
(BL 22)
(CV 5)
4.3.3.3.2 The Back-Shu acupoints and the Front-Mu acupoints can be used independently or in combina-tion. When used together, this method is called Shu-Mu compatibility.
4.3.3.4 Application of the Lower He-Sea acupoints
The Lower He-Sea acupoints refer to the six acu-points located on the three yang meridians of foot. The Lower He-Sea acupoints of the three yang meridians of foot are the He-Sea acupoints in the Five-Shu acupoints on the meridians proper. The Lower He-sea acupoints are closely related to the six fu organs and are used to treat the disorders of six fu organs (see Table 4 - 5).
Table 4 – 5 The Lower He-Sea Acupoints Lower He-Sea Point Pertaining Meridian Stomach Stomach meridian of Yanglingquan Gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang Bladder Bladder meridian of
Large intestine
Small intestine
foot-yangming
Triple energizer
foot-taiyang
4. 3. 3. 5 Application of the Eight Confluent acupoints
The Eight Confluent acupoints refer to the eight acu-points where the essence of zang, fu, qi, blood, tendon, vessels, bone and marrow accumulates respectively. In clinical treatment, they are selected to treat the disorders related to the essence of the corresponding organs or tis-sues. For example, Geshu (BL 17), the confluent acu-point of the blood, is used to treat the syndrome of blood stagnation. (see Table 4 - 6)
Table 4 – 6 The Eight Confluent Acupoints Eight Confluent acupoints Pertaining Meridians Zang Organs Zhangmen(LR 13) Liver meridian of foot-jueyin
Fu Organs
Qi
Blood
Tendon
Pulses and Vessels
Bone
Marrow
Zhongwan(CV 12)
Tanzhong(CV 17)
Geshu(BL 17)
Yanglingquan(GB 34)
Taiyuan(LU 9)
Dazhu(BL 11)
Xuanzhong(GB 39)
Conception vessel
Conception Vessel
Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang
Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang
Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin
Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang
Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang
4. 3. 3. 6 Application of Xi-Cleft acupoints
The Xi-Cleft acupoints are those located at the sites where qi and blood in the meridians converges and accu-mulates. There are sixteen such points on the twelve main meridians, yin link and yang link as well as yin heel and yang heel vessels. (see Table 4 - 7)
Table 4 – 7 The Sixteen Xi-Cleft Acupoints
Xi-Cleft Acupoints
Lung meridian of hand-taiyin
(LU 6)
(LI 7)Large intestine meridian of hand-yangming
Pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin
(PC 4)
(TE 7)Triple energizer meridian of hand-shaoyang
Heart meridian of hand shaoyin
(HT 6)
(SI 6)Small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang
Spleen meridian of foot-taiyin
(SP 8)
(ST 34)Stomach meridian of foot-yang-ming
Liver meridian of foot-jueyin
(GB 36)Gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin
(KI 5)
(BL 63)Bladder meridian of foot-taiyang
Yin link vessel
(KI 9)
(GB 35)Yang link vessel
Yin heel vessel
(KI 8)
(BL 59)Yang heel vessel
The Xi-Cleft acupoints are used mainly to treat acute diseases. For example, Liangqiu (ST 34), the Xi-Cleft acupoint of the stomach meridian, is selected to treat acute stomachache.
4. 3. 3. 7 Application of the eight Convergent acupoints Pericardium M. Yin link vessel Small intestine M. Governor vessel Inner canthus, ear, Waiguan(TE 5) Triple energizer M. Yang link vessel Outer canthus, back Lung M. Conception vessel Throat, lung, chest,
The Eight Convergent acupoints are the eight acu-points usually located around the wrists or ankles through which the twelve regular meridians are connected with the eight extra vessels. These eight Convergent acupoints are divided into four groups and each group is the fixed combi-nation of the two acupoints on the hand and foot (see Ta-ble 4 8).
Table 4 – 8 The Eight Convergent Acupoints
Spleen M.
Thoroughfare vesselHeart, chest, stomach
Bladder M.
Yang heel vessel
neck,shoulder, back
Zulinqi(GB 41)
Gallbladder
Belt vessel
ear, cheek, neck,
shoulder
Kidney M.
Yin heel vessel
diaphragm
4.3.3.8 Application of the crossing acupoints
The crossing acupoints refer to those located at the intersection of the two or more meridians. There are nearly 100 crossing acupoints and most of them are dis-tributed on the trunk, head and face. Since meridians converge at the crossing acupoints, so the crossing acu-points can be used to treat disorders of the multimeridi-ans. For example, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), a crossing acupoint of the three yin meridians of foot, can be used to treat diseases of the spleen, liver and kidney meridians and dis-eases related to the corresponding zang-fu organs.