46 Clinical Application of the Bahuang Points Journal of Chinese Medicine • Number 81 • June 2006

Clinical Application of
the Bahuang Points
By: Dr. Abstract
Youping Qin The ancient theory of ba guà is prevalent in many fields of Chinese philosophy and culture. The application of ba
and Dr. guà to Chinese medicine is not so widely known. This article explores the concept of ba guà in relation to scalp
Guangying acupuncture, using the Bahuang points to treat neurological disorders. It is proposed that these points act as the
Zhou front-mu points of the brain.

Keywords:
Ba gua, I Ching, Introduction 2. Draw a circle with a radius that extends from DU-20

T
Yijing, Book he concept of Ba guà, , is drawn from to Shenting DU-24 anteriorly (or from Baihui DU-20 to
of Changes, ancient philosophies detailed within the I Naohu DU-17 posteriorly), and then divide the circle
trigram, Ching (The Book of Changes), and consists of an into eight equal parts. The eight intersecting points on
hexagram, octagonal diagram with representative trigrams for the outer circumference form the acupuncture points
acupuncture, each of its eight directions. Each trigram is formed known as the outer Bahuang.
neuro- from broken and unbroken lines to represent the 3. Draw a second circle with a radius that extends
psychological natural aspects of: Qian (Heaven), Kun (Earth), from Baihui DU-20 to Xinhui DU-22 anteriorly (or
disorders. Kan (water), Li (fire), Sun (wind), Zhen (thunder), from Baihui DU-20 to Qianjian DU-18 posteriorly)
Gen (mountain) and Dui (the marsh). This theory is and divide it into eight equal parts These eight
fundamental to Chinese Taoist thought and has a intersecting points form the middle Bahuang.
wide-reaching influence within the fields of medicine, 4. Draw a third circle with a radius that extends from
feng shui, martial arts and navigation. DU-20 to Qianding DU-21 anteriorly and also divide
it into eight equal parts. These eight intersecting
points form the inner Bahuang.
These three groups of eight points (24 in all) are the
Li complete set of the Bahuang points.
(fire)
Ku rth
(w Sun

(e
d)

n )
a
in
(thunder)

(marsh)
Zhen

Dui
)

(h Qia
en in

ea n
G nta

v
ou

en
(m

Kan
(water)

The Bahuang points are scalp acupuncture points

that reflect the eight directions of the ba guà. These
points were favoured by Professor Li in the treatment
of a wide range of neurological disorders.

Point location Needling technique

1. Use Baihui DU-20 (Hundred Meetings) as the Needle transversely 0.5 to 1.0 cun toward Baihui
centre point (central palace). DU-20 (inward needling) or toward Fengfu DU-16
Journal of Chinese Medicine • Number 81 • June 2006
and Yintang M-HN-3 (outward needling). Inward
needling has a strengthening function and outward
needling reduces and disperses.
Normally one circle of eight points is suggested for
one treatment, but two circles, or indeed all three, can
be applied at the same time when necessary, i.e. in
severe cases.
Indications
Professor Li used the Bahuang points to treat a wide
range of neuropsychological disorders including
hemiplegia, headache, migraine, vertigo, insomnia,
amnesia, dementia, mania and epilepsy. The Bahuang
points have also been used in the treatment of multiple
sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Discussion
More than two thousand years ago, the Yellow Emperor’s
Inner Classic; Elementary Questions recorded that “the
head is the palace of consciousness”, summarising
the understanding that the essence and qi from the
five zang and six fu organs goes up to the head to
form spirit and consciousness. Ancient texts also
emphasise the importance of the points Baihui DU-20
and Fengfu DU-16 in the treatment of brain disorders,
specifically, the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, Spiritual
Pivot states in chapter 33 that “The brain is the sea of
marrow, and its points are Baihui DU-20 at the vertex
and Fengfu DU-16 at the occiput”.
Each of the zangfu organs has its own front-mu point
located on the chest or abdomen near to the respective
organ. These points may not necessarily belong to the
channel pertaining to the zangfu, but they can indicate
disorder in the zangfu, for example Zhongwan
REN-12, the front-mu point of the Stomach, is located
on the Conception vessel (Ren Mai) and is close to the
Stomach fu; Tianshu ST-25, the front-mu point of the
Large Intestine, lies on the Stomach channel but is
close to the Large Intestine fu; Zhangmen LIV-13, the
front-mu point of the Spleen, is located on the Liver
channel and lies close to the Spleen zang. Therefore,
as the brain is the most important extraordinary
organ, it should possess special front-mu points. As
the Bahuang points are located on the top of the head
in the scalp, and have a direct connection to both the
brain and all 14 channels, it may be held that these
points play the role of front-mu points for the brain
and are thus the best model of scalp acupuncture.
Case studies
Case A: Professor Li treating
The patient was a 76 year old male suffering from
chronic insomnia; he also experienced tremors in all
four extremities, which when severe greatly disturbed
his daily activity as he was unable to eat or walk.
Clinical Application of the Bahuang Points 47
Western medicine had diagnosed brain atrophy, via a
CT scan, and cerebral arteriosclerosis accompanied by
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subsequent
treatment with Diazepam, calcium supplements and
other Western medicine was ineffective.
Professor Li diagnosed insomnia and tremor, with a
Chinese medicine differentiation of deficient Liver and
Kidneys leading to malnourishment of Heart spirit.
The Bahuang points were needled using a reinforcing
technique. One group of the Bahuang points was
used per day, with the addition of other points
such as the Four Gates (Taichong LIV-3 and Hegu
L.I.-4), Neiguan P-6 and Yanglingquan GB-34. After the
first treatment, the patient slept 1-2 hours; after three
treatments the tremors had noticeably improved. Two
weeks later, the patient was able to sleep 2-3 hours per
night and his tremors had improved to the point that
he was able to perform his normal daily activities.
Case B: Dr. Youping Qin treating
The patient, a 49 year old female, had been suffering
from erratic mood swings for over ten years, alternating
between outbursts of anger and a depressive state.
She had also suffered from hot flushes during the day,
for over a year, with insomnia and dream-disturbed
sleep during the night. In addition, she also suffered
from a low libido, shoulder and back tightness,
abdominal bloating with chronic constipation and
occasional alternating constipation and diarrhoea,
urinary incontinence and carbohydrate addiction.
The patient had participated in three sleep studies
prior to her initial visit where she had been diagnosed
with mild sleep apnoea.
Western medicine had diagnosed bipolar disorder
with mild sleep apnoea. The prescribed treatment
over the course of several years included Wellbutrin,
Thyrolar, Neurontin, lithium and various anti-
depressants; all having little real effect for the
patient.
On examination, the pulse was found to be very
weak at the Kidney positions, especially on the right.
The tongue was toothmarked with a red tip and
had a thick greasy coating. The Chinese medicine
differentiation was found to be damp phlegm
accumulation blocking the Heart orifice, and Liver
qi stagnation with underlying Kidney yin and yang
deficiency.
Initially, treatment over twelve sessions utilised
various points, mainly Yintang M-HN-3, Taixi KID-3,
Shenmen HE-7, Tongli HE-5, Sishencong M-HN-1,
Baihui DU-20 and Sanyinjiao SP-6. However, the
patient reported only some temporary improvement.
The main symptoms persisted, namely fatigue, erratic
mood swings, anxiety, mental instability, diarrhoea
and constipation, hot flushes and sugar craving.
48 Clinical Application of the Bahuang Points Journal of Chinese Medicine • Number 81 • June 2006

It was not until the Bahuang points were introduced

into the treatment plan, using alternating outer, middle,
and inner circle points with other body points, that the
patient showed significant improvement in maintaining
an overall balanced mood, greater mental stability and
clarity, and improved sleep. Over one year after the
treatment with the Bahuang points started, the patient
felt more mentally stable, had fewer digestive problems
and sugar cravings and was capable of maintaining
balanced, healthy relationships with others.

Dedication
This paper is written in the cherished memory of one of
our great mentors, Professor Zhongyu Li, from whom
we learned this special therapy for the treatment of
neuropsychopathy. The authors studied under Professor
Li as Chief Residents during 1990 at the Teaching
Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine.

Dr Youping Qin studied acupuncture and Chinese herbal

medicine for 11 years at Chengdu University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine where he earned a doctoral degree in
medicine. He has 23 years clinical and teaching experience
and specialises in treating sports injuries, skin disorders and
neurological diseases. Since 1991, he has taught and practised
TCM in Europe. Currently, he serves as a visiting professor for
the Classical Chinese Medicine Department at the National
College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, where
he has been teaching since 2001.

Dr Guangying Zhou studied acupuncture and Chinese herbal

medicine for 11 years at Chengdu University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine where she earned a doctoral degree in
medicine. Since 1984, she has engaged in clinical practice,
teaching and research in the teaching hospital of Chengdu, West
China University of Medical Sciences, and Sichuan Continuing
Educational College of Medical Sciences. She specialises in
gynaecology and infertility. At present, she serves as a visiting
professor for the Classical Chinese Medicine Department
at National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in
Portland, Oregon.

References
Asian Spirituality, Taoist Studies Series, Ling Shu or The Spiritual
Pivot, (1993). Translated by Wu Jing-Nuan, Taoist Center:
Washington, DC.
The Collection of Chinese Medicine Experts at Chengdu University
of TCM, (1999). Academic Connections of Famous Chinese Experts of
China’s High Education in TMC. Chief Editor: Li Mingfu, People’s
Medical Publishing House: Beijing.
Tianjin Science and Technology Publishing House, (1991). The Four
Classics of Chinese Medicine: Pocket Edition. Tianjin: China.