Point Category

腧穴分类
 Classifications of Acupoints

• Ashi Points 阿是穴(painful points) – can

be anywhere, unnamed and unrelated to
channels
• Points on channels十四经穴: all have
names, on named channels, have
specific locations and specific indications
• Extra Points经外奇穴: all have names
and specific locations and indications,
but are not belong to named channels.
 Indications of Points
– Local Problems近治作用: all points can treat
problems in the local area
– Problems along pathway of meridian远治作用: all
points on a meridian can treat problems along the
path of the meridian i.e.: LI4 – elbow, shoulder, neck,
face…DU20 - head, lower back, nasal… (the more
distal points of the channels that they treat disorders of
the upper end of the channel)
– Special indications特殊作用: most points have
special indications, not necessarily related to their
location or meridian location. I.e. DU20 can treat
conditions of excessive Yang: i.e. fever, organ
prolapse, insomnia, lethargy, opening the mind
 Special Points
• 5 Shu 五输穴
• Yuan Source 原穴
• Luo Connecting 络穴
• Back-Shu 背输穴
• Front-Mu 募穴
• Hui Meeting 八会穴
• Sky Window 天窗穴
• Xi Cleft 郗穴…
 Xi-Cleft Points郗穴
‘xi’ implies a cleft, hole or opening, and the xi-cleft points are
where the qi and blood gather and plunge more deeply.
The Xi-cleft points of the 12 channels
Lung LU 6 Bladder BL 63
Large Intestine LI 7 Kidney KI 5
Stomach ST 34 Pericardium P4
Spleen SP 8 San Jiao SJ 7
Heart HT 6 Gall bladder GB 36
Small Intestine SI 6 Liver LIV 6
The Xi-cleft points of the extraordinary channels
Yang Qiao (motility) BL 59 Yang Wei (linking) GB 35
Yin Qiao (motility) KI 8 Yin Wei (linking) KI 9
 Xi-Cleft Points indications
• Indicated in treatment of acute
conditions and pain
• ST 34: 1) acute disorders such as breast pain and
breast abscess (mastitis – see next page).
2) acute epigastric pain.

• Yin xi-cleft points treat disorders of the

blood
• LU 6: 1) acute cough and wheezing, swelling and pain
of the throat and loss of voice
2) coughing blood
Mastitis (breast abscess)
 Yuan Source Points原穴
• This is the place where original (Yuan source)
qi surfaces and lingers.

The yuan source points of the twelve

channels
Lung LU 9 Bladder BL 64
Large Intestine LI 4 Kidney KI 3
Stomach ST 42 Pericardium P7
Spleen SP 3 San Jiao SJ 4
Heart HT 7 Gall bladder GB 40
Small Intestine SI 4 Liver LIV 3
 Yuan Source Points
• For Yin Channels, Yuan source points are
the same as the Shu stream points. The Spiritual
Pivot in Chapter 1 states “When the five zang are
diseased, select the yuan source points” ----
tonifying and regulating their respective Zang

Lung LU 9 Liver LIV 3

Spleen SP 3 Kidney KI 3

Heart HT 7 Pericardium P 7
 Yuan Source Points
• For Yang channels they are located just
proximal to the shu-stream points, usually
4th point from distal end (except GB which
is the 5th). They have negligible use in
tonifying . Function is to dispel excess
pathogenic factors and treat disorders
along the pathway of their respective
meridian.
LI 4
Usage of Yuan-source points
• Used for:
• 1) Diagnosis Use if tenderness as indication of
a problem with a particular organ If describe the
problem, get an idea of the organ or the
meridian that may have a problem and palpate
points for tender spots.
• 2) Treatment one of the best for Zang organ
problems. Often used clinically. Usually combine
with back shu points, or combined with Luo
connecting points.
 Luo -connecting Points络穴
• 12 regular channels plus REN, DU and Great
Spleen (15 Luo connecting points)

Lung LU 7 Bladder BL 58 Heart HT 5

Large LI 6 Kidney KI 4 Small SI 7

Intestine Intestine
Stomach ST 40 Pericardium P 6 Gall bladder GB 37

Spleen SP 4 San Jiao SJ 5 Liver LIV 5

REN REN 15 DU Du 1 Great Luo of SP 21

SP
Pathway of collateral meridians
from the luo-connecting point of their own channel
to connect with their internally-externally paired
channel. After joining with their paired channel they
usually continue to follow their own pathways.

Certain area where collateral

meridian distribute to
Luo-connecting point
external or internally related
meridian
Application of Luo-connecting point

1. Treat external and internal channel's or

Zang-fu diseases
Lu-7: treat headache and stiff neck
ST-40: can be used to treat leg pain and phlegm problems
GB-37: can be treated for headache-temporal or sciatica
radiation to lateral thigh; can also be used for eye problems

2. Treating disorders in regions reached

by the Luo connecting channel
3. Treating psycho-emotional disorders
 Methods of combining Yuan-source
point and Luo-connecting points原络配穴
Also called host guest combination主客原络配穴法
1. Exteriorly interiorly related channel (zang/fu)
diseases:
the 1st disordered channel (zang-fu) – yuan-source point
the 2nd disordered channel (zang-fu) – luo-connecting point
i.e.:1st lung disorder, then LI disorder: Lu9, LI 6
2. Only one organ (Zang/fu) disease:
Yuan-source point of the disordered channel (Zang-fu);
Luo-connecting point of the paired channel
i.e.: Sp disorder: SP 3, ST 40
 Back-shu points背输穴
• Shu means transport
• Back shu points transports qi between the zang
and the point

• The twelve back shu points corresponding to the

twelve zangfu lie along the Bladder channel on
the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline.
 Back-shu points
Lung BL 13 Bladder BL 28

Large Intestine BL 25 Kidney BL 23

Stomach BL 21 Pericardium BL 14

Spleen BL 20 San Jiao BL 22

Heart BL 15 Gall bladder BL 19

Small Intestine BL 27 Liver BL 18

• Located at roughly the same anatomic location as the

related zang or fu
• Close to opposite in location to their corresponding
front-mu point
 Function of Back-Shu Points
1. Used to treat Zang and Fu organ problems,
mainly Zang. (Used primarily for diseases of
deficiency and cold and for yin)
2. Used to treat problems of the 5 sense
organs
3. Used for treating diseases of connective
tissue: bone/KI, muscle/SP

• Usually combine with Yuan source point to

treat Zang organ’s problems.
• Tender when disharmony exists
 Front Mu Points募穴
• Mu means to gather or collect
• Qi of zangfu gathers or collects at front mu points
Lung LU 1 Bladder REN 3

Large Intestine ST 25 Kidney GB 25

Stomach REN 12 Pericardium REN 17

Spleen LIV 13 San Jiao REN 5

Heart REN 14 Gall bladder GB 24

Small Intestine REN 4 Liver LIV 14

Usually the point location is very near to the location of

the organ.
 Front Mu Points
• Used for treating Zang-Fu organ
diseases (more for Fu Organ diseases).
i.e.: Stomach ache, REN-12 is better than
BL-21 (Back Shu.)

• Usually combine with lower He-sea

point to treat Fu-organs problems.
 Lower He-Sea Points下合穴
• for Fu organ diseases
• only on lower extremities, around or lower
knee

• ST: ST 36 (same as He Sea points)

• LI: ST 37
• SI: ST 39
• SJ: BL 39
• BL: BL 40 (same as He Sea points)
• GB: GB 34 (same as He Sea points)
 Hui-Meeting Points八会穴
• Also called Influential points.
• These are points which have the most direct
effect on the corresponding structure

Zang LIV 13 Sinews GB 34

Fu REN 12 Vessels LU 9
Qi REN 17 Bone BL 11
Blood BL 17 Marrow GB 39
Confluent Points of the 8 Extraordinary
Vessels 八脉交会穴

• These are the underground connection to the 12

regular channels from the extraordinary channels
• Uses to activate respective extraordinary channel
and effect specific symptoms in the body

Conception (REN) LU 7 Yin motility (Qiao) KID 6

Governing (DU) SI 3 Yang motility (Qiao) BL 62
Penetrating SP 4 Yin linking (Wei) P6
(CHONG)
Girdling (DAI) GB 41 Yang linking (Wei) SJ 5
Window of the Sky Points天窗穴
• Also called Window of Heaven Points
• All but 2 are located around the neck

Window of the sky points

LU-3 REN-22
ST-9 SI-16
LI-18 SI-17
SJ-16 DU-16
BL-10 P-1
Traditional use of window of the sky
points includes:
1. Disharmony between the qi of the body and
the head, with qi or blood rebelling upwards
– Cough, wheezing, chest disorders from rebellion of lung
qi or Vomiting from rebellion of stomach qi
– Headache and dizziness and heat, redness or swelling
of face or eyes
2. Goiter or scrofula or throat disorders
3. Sudden onset of disorders
– Sudden loss of voice; sudden dyspnea…
4. Psycho emotional disorders
5. Disorders of sense organs
 13 Ghost Points of Sun Si Miao
孙思邈十三鬼穴
• For treatment of mental disorders: mania,
epilepsy, depression

13 Ghost Points of Sun Si Miao

DU 26 SP 1
DU 16 P7
DU 23 P8
REN 24 BL 62
LU 11 Haiquan – extra below tongue
LI 11 Yumentou - (extra)
ST 6 corresponding to REN 1
 13 Ghost Points of Xu Qiu Fu
徐秋夫十三鬼穴
• For treatment of mental disorders: mania,
epilepsy, depression

13 Ghost Points of Xu Qiu Fu

DU 26 SP 1
DU 16 P7
DU 24 P5
REN 24 ST 17 (RN 17)
LU 11 LIV 2
ST 6 GB 34
MIDLINE below the tongue
Class 4
 Five Shu Points 五输穴

1. Jing well: where qi emanates

2. Ying spring: where qi glides
3. Shu stream: where qi pours through
4. Jing river: where qi flows
5. He sea: where qi enters inward

All below or around elbow or knee

 Five Shu Points
From distal to Proximal

Jing- Ying- Shu Jing-River He-sea

Well Spring Stream
Qi Action Qi Qi glides Qi pours Qi flows Qi enters
emanates inward
Location Tips of Distal to Proximal to Proximal to Elbow/
(NOT every fingers or MCP/MTP MCP/MTP Wrist/ankle knee
point) toes
Yin Wood Fire earth metal water
Yang metal water wood fire Earth

MCP = metacarpal-phalangeal joint 掌指关节

MTP = metatarsal-phalangeal joint 跖趾关节
 Five element points of the twelve main meridians

Jing- Ying- Shu- Jing- He- Jing- Ying- Shu- Jing- He-
well spring stream river sea well spring strea river sea
m
wood fire earth metal water metal water wood fire earth

Lung Large
11 10 9 8 5 Intestine 1 2 3 5 11
Spleen Stomach
1 2 3 5 9 45 44 43 41 36
Heart Small
9 8 7 4 3 Intestine
1 2 3 5 8
Kidney Urinary
1 2 3 7 10 Bladder
67 66 65 60 40
Pericardiu San Jiao
m
9 8 7 5 3 1 2 3 6 10
Liver Gall-
1 2 3 4 8 bladder
44 43 41 38 34

Horary point: the point corresponding to the element of the channel

Functions of 5 Shu-points
 Jing-well point 井穴
1. Clears heat in excess heat conditions:
Mostly in uppermost region, i.e. LU11 for sore
throat, SI1 for mastitis
2. Restoring consciousness and rescuing
collapse: coma, fainting and collapse
3. Treat the uppermost reaches of the
channels: LU 11 for acute sore throat, throat
painful, mumps
4. Treat fullness below heart: treat stagnation
and fullness throughout the chest region.
LU11 (LU arises from stomach area)
5. Treat disorders of the spirit: Mania,
insomnia, nightmares and somnolence.
 Ying-Spring point 荥穴
1. Clears heat (excess and deficient heat)
from entire channel, although more so in
uppermost part
2. treat changes in the complexion: heat-
heart pathogens-complexion (less used)
3. treat diseases of the yang channels and
diseases of the zang (with the shu stream
point) *Disorders of the Zang (with the
Shu-stream)
 Shu-Stream point 输穴

• same as Yuan Source for Yin Meridians

1. Heaviness of body, pain of joints

2. Disorders of the Zang (Yin channel)
3. Disorders of the yang channels (Yang channel)
4. Diseases that have intermittent manifestation of
symptoms (i.e. malaria)
 Jing-River point 经穴
1. Cough, Dyspnea, chills and fever
LI-5 to stop smoking
2. Diseases manifesting in the patient’s
voice
3. Diseases of the sinews and bones
(wrist, ankle)
 He-Sea points 合穴
1. Counterflow qi and diarrhea, disease of
the Stomach disorders resulting from
irregular eating and drinking
2. Diseases of the fu organs
3. Diseases of the skin (BL-40, LI-11)
 How to use Five-Shu points
1. Choose Five-Shu points according to its
function: clear heat – Jing-well point or
Ying-spring point

2. Choose Five-Shu points according to five

element theory
Choosing points according to
Five Element Theory
1. Treat Horary point on the diseased
channel
– If excess, apply reduce technique (insert
needle in direction opposite the flow of
the meridian or puncture while
inhaling...)
– If deficient, apply tonify technique

LU excess: reduce LU 8
LIV deficiency: tonify LIV 1
2. Treat Mother or child point on the diseased
channel
– If excess, reduce child point
– If deficient, tonify mother point

LU excess: reduce Lu 5 (water point of Lung channel)

LU deficiency: tonify Lu 9 (earth point of Lung channel)
Fire
HT/SI
7

Sp excess:
Vessels
Tongue

Wood Earth
LV/GB Insulting ST/SP

Sp 5 (metal point of Sp channel) 8

Sinews
Eyes
Controlling
5
Muscles
Mouth

Sp deficiency:
Water Metal
KI/BL LU/LI

Sp 2 (fire point of Sp channel) 6

Bones
Ears
Generating
mother/child
9
Skin
Nose
 Five element points of the twelve main meridians

Jing- Ying- Shu- Jing- He- Jing- Ying- Shu- Jing- He-
well spring stream river sea well spring strea river sea
m
wood fire earth metal water metal water wood fire earth

Lung Large
11 10 9 8 5 Intestine 1 2 3 5 11
Spleen Stomach
1 2 3 5 9 45 44 43 41 36
Heart Small
9 8 7 4 3 Intestine
1 2 3 5 8
Kidney Urinary
1 2 3 7 10 Bladder
67 66 65 60 40
Pericardiu San Jiao
m
9 8 7 5 3 1 2 3 6 10
Liver Gall-
1 2 3 4 8 bladder
44 43 41 38 34

Horary point: the point corresponding to the element of the channel

3. Treat Horary point on the mother or child
channel
– If excess, reduce horary point on child channel
– If deficient, tonify horary point on mother channel
LU excess: reduce KI 10 (water point on water channel)
LU deficiency: tonify Sp 3 (earth point on earth channel)
Fire
HT/SI

SP 7
Vessels
Tongue

deficiency: Wood Earth

LV/GB ST/SP
Insulting
8 5
Sinews Muscles
HT 8 or P 8 Eyes
Controlling
Mouth

SP excess:
Water Metal
KI/BL LU/LI

LU 8 6
Bones
Ears
Generating
mother/child
9
Skin
Nose
4. Treat mother or child point on the paired channel
– If excess, reduce child element point on paired channel
– If deficient, tonify mother element point on paired
channel
LU excess: reduce on LI 2 (water point on LI channel)
LU deficiency: tonify on LI 11 (earth point on LI cannel)
Fire
HT/SI
7
Vessels
Tongue

LIV excess: should reduce Wood Earth

LV/GB Insulting ST/SP
8 5
GB 38 (fire point on GB channel) Sinews
Eyes
Controlling
Muscles
Mouth

LIV deficiency: should tonify

GB 43 (water point on GB channel) Water
KI/BL
Metal
LU/LI
6 Generating 9
Bones mother/child Skin
Ears Nose

Liver 1 2 3 4 8
Gall-bladder 44 43 41 38 34
5. four needle technique
– If excess:
Reduce: (child element)
1. its own son (child) point on its own (disease) channel
2. the horary point on it’s son’s (child’s) channel
Tonify: (control element)
1. Its Ko (control) point on its own (disease) channel
2. Horary point on its ko (control) channel
LU excess: reduce Lu 5, KI 10; tonify Lu 10, HT 8

Reduce: Tonify:
LIV excess:
LIV 2, HT 8 LIV 4, LU 8
5. four needle technique (cont.)
– If deficiency:
Tonify: (mother element)
1. its own mother point on its own (disease) channel
2. the horary point on mother channel
Reduce: (control element)
1. Its Ko (control) point on its own (disease) channel
2. Horary point on its ko (control) channel
LU deficiency: Tonify Lu 9, SP3; reduce Lu 10, HT 8

tonify: reduce:
LIV deficiency:
LIV 8, KI 10 LIV 4, LU 8
 Four needle techniques
Treatment for deficiency Treatment for excess

Tonifying Reducing Reducing Tonifying

LV LV 8 KI 10 LV 4 LU 8 LV 2 HT 8 LV 4 LU 8

HT HT 9 LV 1 HT 3 KI 10 HT 7 SP 3 HT 3 KI 10

PC PC 9 GB 41 PC 3 KI 10 PC 7 ST 36 PC 3 KI 10
LV 1 SP 3
SP SP 2 HT 8 SP 1 LV 1 SP 5 LU 8 SP 1 LV 1

LU LU 9 SP 3 LU 10 HT 8 LU 5 K 10 LU 10 HT 8

KI KI 7 LU 8 KI 3 SP 3 KI 1 LV 1 KI 3 SP 3
 Four needle techniques

Treatment for deficiency Treatment for excess

Tonifying Reducing Reducing Tonifying
LI LI 11 ST 36 LI 5 SI 5 LI 2 BL 66 LI 5 SI 5
BL BL 67 LI 1 BL 40 ST 36 BL 65 GB 41 BL 40 ST 36
GB GB 43 BL 66 GB 44 LI 1 GB 38 SI 5 GB 44 LI 1
SI SI 3 GB 41 SI 2 BL 66 SI 8 ST 36 SI 2 BL 66
SJ SJ 3 GB 41 SJ 2 BL 66 SJ 10 ST 36 SJ 2 BL 66
ST ST 41 SI 5 ST 43 GB 41 ST 45 LI 1 ST 43 GB 41