Special acupoints refer to the acupoints on the fourteen meridians with special curative effect. A majority of the acupoints bear special effect and are commonly used in clinical treatment. There are ten types of special acupoints, including Five-Shu acupoints below tile knees and elbows, Yuan-Source acupoints, Luo-Connecting acupoints, Lower He-Sea acupoints, Xi-Cleft acupoints and eight convergent acupoints; Back-Shu acupoints and Front-Mu acupoints located on the trunk; as well as eight confluent acupoints and crossing acupoints located on the whole body.
1.2.3. 1 Five-Shu acupoints Five-Shu acupoints refer to Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea which are five acupoints located on the twelve meridians below the knees and elbows. They are situated in the above order from the distal extremities to the elbows or knees. These five acupoints reflect the indication of the acupoints below me knees and elbows.
1.2. 3. 2 Yuan-Source acupoints Yuan-Source acupoints, the regions where the primary qi of the viscera flows by and retains, are usually located around the wrists and ankles, reflecting the pathological changes of the viscera. They are clinically used to diagnose and treat the disorders of the related viscera.
1.2. 3. 3 Luo-Connecting acupoints Luo-Connecting acupoints refer to the points where the fifteen collaterals stem from the twelve meridians, the governor and conception vessels as well as the major collateral of the spleen. All the Luo-Connecting acupoints of the twelve meridians are located below the elbows and knees. Luo-Connecting acupoints are used to treat the disorders of the regions that the meridians and collaterals run through as well as the disorders to the meridians in external and internal relation.
1.2. 3. 4 Xi-Cleft acupoints The Xi-Cleft acupoints are the sites where qi and blood from the meridians are deeply converged. Each of the twelve meridians and the four extraordinary vessels(Yin heel vessel, yang heel vessel, Yin link vessel and Yang link vessel) has a Xi-Cleft acupoint on the limbs, amounting to sixteen in all. All the Xi-Cleft acupoints, except Liangqiu (ST 34) on the stomach meridian, are all situated below the knees and elbows. Clinically Xi-Cleft acupoints are used to treat severe acute disorders of the meridians. The Xi-Cleft acupoints on the yin meridians are usually used to treat various blood syndromes and the Xi-Cleft acupoints on the yang meridians are often used to treat various pain syndromes.
1.2. 3. 5 The eight convergent acupoints The eight convergent acupoints refer to the eight acupoints on the twelve meridians that are connected with the eight extraordinary vessels. These eight acupoints are all located below the knees and elbows and are used to treat disorders involving the face, head and trunk related to the eight extraordinary vessels.
1.2. 3. 6 The lower He-Sea acupoints The lower He-Sea acupoints refer to six acupoints on the three yang meridians of the foot where qi from the six fu organs converges and are the key acupoints for the treatment of the disorders of the six fu organs.
1.2. 3. 7 Back-Shu acupoints The Back-Shu acupoints are located on the back and waist along the first lateral line of the bladder meridian(1.5 cun lateral to the back middle line) and are the regions where qi of the viscera is infused. The distributing order of Back-Shu acupoints is similar to that of the location of the viscera. Clinically these acupoints are used to treat the disorders of the related viscera, tissues and organs.
1.2. 3. 8 Front-Mu acupoints Front-Mu acupoints are those located on the chest and abdomen where qi of the viscera is infused and converged. The location of the Front-Mu acupoints is similar to that of the related viscera. Among these acupoints, six on the conception vessel are unilateral acupoints, the rest are bilateral acupoints. Front-Mu acupoints can be used to treat disorders of the related viscera, especially the disorders of the six fu organs. Front-Mu acupoints are usually needled with the combination of Back-Shu acupoints.
1.2. 3. 9 Eight confluent acupoints Eight confluent acupoints, located on the trunk and four limbs below the knees and elbows, are the regions where the essence of qi, blood, tendons, vessels, bones, marrow, zang organs and fu organs converges. Apart from treating diseases of the meridian proper, these acupoints are frequently used to treat diseases of the corresponding tissues and organs.
1.2. 3. 10 Crossing acupoints Crossing acupoints are those at the intersections of two or more meridians. Most of them are located on the head, face and trunk, except a few which are located on the lower limbs. Crossing acupoints are clinically used to treat diseases related to the meridian proper and the meridians crossed with the meridian proper. Clinically these acupoints are used to treat the disorders of the crossing meridians.
