Brief Introduction to Acupoints

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Brief Introduction to Acupoints
Lecturer QU Hongyan
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Acupoints
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General Introduction to acupoints

• 1. concept
• 2. classification
• 3. therapeutic properties
• 4. specific points
• 5. methods for locating acupoints

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1. Basic concept of acupoints

• The places for acupuncture and
  moxibustion, also known as acupuncture points,
  acupoints or points, are the specific sites where
  the qi of zang-fu organs and channels is
  transported to the body surface.
• Points are not only the reflecting
  places of disorders but also the sites to receive
  the stimulation by acupuncture and moxibustion.

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2. Classification of Acupoints

• Fourteen meridian points
• Extraordinary points
• A-shi points

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Meridian points

• concepthave fixed names and locations belong
  to fourteen meridians.e.g. Hegu(LI4)?Zusanli(ST36)
  
• featuresthey have definate names?fixed
  locations and meridian tropism
• effecttreat the disorders of the pertained
  meridians

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Extraordinary points

• conceptthe points that have definite locations
  but have not been recognized as points of the
  fourteen meridians have specific names and
  effective indications. e.g.Taiyang(EX-HN
  5)?Shixuan(EX-UE 11)
• featuresdefinite names, fixed location
• effecthave special therapeutic effect to some
  disorders

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A-shi points

• conceptalso called tender spots, sensitive
  points. These points have neither specific names
  nor definite locations.
• featuresthey have no definate names?fixed
  locations and meridian tropism
• effectcertain diseases

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3. Therapeutic properties of acupoints

• Local and adjacent properties
• Remote properties
• Special properties
• (1)bi-directional beneficial regulation
• (2)relative specificity

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(1) Local and adjacent properties

• conceptall acupoints can treat disorders of
  nearby tissues and organs.
• examples
• ocular regions
• upper abdomen
• the knee
• A-shi pointcan treat the localized
  disorders of itself

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(2)Remote properties

• conceptthe meridian points, especially those of
  the 12 meridians located below the elbow and knee
  joints, are also effective for disorders of the
  tissues and zang-fu organs so far as the course
  of their pertaining meridians can effect.
  e.g.the five-shu points
• basisthe indications of points extend to where
  their pertinent meridians reach?
• examples
• Hegu(LI 4)
• Zusanli(ST 36)

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(3)Special properties

• conceptsome points have certain special effects
  such as bi-directional regulation, general
  regulation, and other specific actions.
• basisclinical practice
• examples
• Tianshu(ST 25)?Neiguan(PC 6)
• Dazhui(GV14)?Zhiyin(BL67)

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4. Specific points

• Specific points refer to those points
  of the fourteen channels that have special
  therapeutic effects and are specifically named
  under certain categories.
• the commonly used specific points are
  Five Transport points, Yuan-Source points,
  Luo-Connecting points, Xi-Cleft points, Back-Shu
  points, Front-Mu points, Lower-He Sea points,
  Eight Influential points, Eight Confluent points
  and Crossing points.

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Five transport points

• Five transport points refer to five
  groups of points distributed distally to the
  elbow or knee joints, namely Jing-Well,
  Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea.
  The terms and locations of the Five transport
  points were stated in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).

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Yuan-Source points

• Yuan means source or original qi, which
  is the original power of vital activities. The
  term of the Yuan-Source points was first
  mentioned in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).
• Yuan-Source points are a group of
  regular channel points located near the wrist or
  ankle, and these are the places where the
  original qi of zang-fu organs and channels passes
  and gathers.

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Luo-Connecting points

• Luo-Connecting points are the sites
  where the Fifteen Collaterals branch out from the
  channels (including the Governor Vessel and
  Conception Vessel).
• Luo means connecting.The term of the
  Luo-Connecting points was first recorded in Ling
  Shu (Spiritual Pivot). They are called Fifteen
  Luo-Connecting points.

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Xi-Cleft points

• Xi means hollow or cleft. Xi-Cleft
  points are situated at the sites where the
  channel-qi is deeply converged and accumulated in
  the limbs. The term of the Xi-Cleft points was
  first mentioned in the ABC Classic of Acupuncture
  and Moxibustion.
• Most Xi-Cleft points are situated
  distal to the elbow or knee joints.

How many Xi-Cleft points in human body?
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Back-Shu points

• Back-Shu points are the corresponding
  points on the back where the qi of the respective
  zang-fu organs infused. The term of Back-Shu
  points was first recorded in Ling Shu (Spiritual
  Pivot).
• All these Back-Shu points are
  situated on the first lateral line of the Bladder
  meridian of Foot-Taiyang, and are longitudinally
  distributed roughly according to the anatomic
  position of the zang-fu organs.

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Front-Mu points

• Mu means converging and recruiting.
  Front-Mu points are a group of regular meridian
  points located on the chest and abdomen where the
  qi of the respective zang-fu organs infuses and
  converges.
• The term for the Front-Mu points was
  first stated in Su Wen (Plain Questions). Each of
  six zang and six fu-organs has one Front Mu point
  which are situated close to their corresponding
  zang or fu-organs.

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Lower He-Sea points

• Lower He-Sea points, also called Lower
  He-Sea points of six fu-organs, refer to the six
  points where the qi of the six fu-organs pours
  downward toward the three yang meridians of the
  foot.
• The term for the Lower He-Sea points
  was first recorded in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).
  There are six Lower He-Sea points in total.

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Eight Influential points

• The Eight Influential Points refer to
  the eight points which are the gathering places
  for the zang-organs, fu-organs, qi, blood,
  tendon, vessel, bone and marrow respectively. The
  term of Eight Influential Points was first
  recorded in Nan Jing (Difficult Classic).
• The Eight Influential Points are
  distributed on the trunk and the four limbs,
  amongst which the Influential Points of the
  zang-organs, fu-organs, qi, blood and bone are
  located on the trunk, while those of the tendon,
  vessel and marrow are on the four limbs.

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Eight Confluent points

• Eight confluent points refer to the
  eight points on the four limbs where the twelve
  regular channels communicate with the eight extra
  meridians.
• The term was first stated in Zhen Jing
  Zhi Nan (Guidance to Acupuncture Classic). Eight
  Confluent points are distributed distal to the
  wrist or the ankles.

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Rules for the point indication

• 1. Rules of indication in channels
• The meridian points on the four limbs
  have special therapeutic effects for the
  disorders of the head, trunk and zang-fu organs.
  These are the foundation for point indications
  according to channel distribution, and the origin
  of the therapeutic rules of so-called four roots
  and three tips summarized by ancient doctors.

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Rules for the point indication

• 2. Rules of indication according to the
  physical region
• The points in head, face, neck and trunk take the
  local and adjacent effect as the principal factor
• Points in chest and abdomen and in waist and back
  can treat the disorders of corresponding part and
  zang-fu organs, while the latter can also treat
  the diseases of lower limbs.
• Points above the elbows and knees and below the
  elbows and knees can treat the local disorders,
  while the latter can also treat the diseases of
  distant areas, general disorders such a fever,
  unconsciousness.

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5. Methods for Locating Acupoints

• Bone-length proportional measurement
• Measurement with Anatomic Landmarks
• Finger measurement
• Simplified measurement

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(1)Bone-length proportional measurement

• conceptIt locates acupoints by means of
  respectively dividing the width or length of
  various portions of the human body into definite
  numbers of equal units, as the standard for
  measurement.
• meritsscientific and practicalapplicable for
  different ages, sexes, and body sizes.
• the commonly used are as follows

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back
head?chest
The lateral
Lower limbs
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back
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Back
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back
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back
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(2) Measurement with Anatomic Landmarks

• conceptlocating by referring to the anatomic
  landmarks on the body surface.
• types
• fixed anatomic landmarks
• moving landmarks

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(3)Finger measurement

• Conceptusing the length and width of the
  patients finger (s) as a standard to locate
  points.
• Typesmiddle finger measurement
• thumb measurement
• four-finger measurement

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(4) Simplified Measurement

• It is a simple method used to locate
  points.
• For instance, when the patient stands
  erect with the hands close to the legs,
  Fengshi(GB 31)is where the tip of the middle
  finger touches the leg.

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Thank you!