Point Indication

1. Point Indication • Class 13

2. Extraordinary Vessels

3. The Conception vessel (Ren Mai) • Primarily treats reproductive and gynecological problems, abdominal and chest symptoms as well as general yin conditions. • The Governing Vessel (Du Mai) • Primarily treats pain in the spine, back and neck, and neurological problems as well as general yang conditions.

4. The Girdling Vessel (Dai Mai) encircles the body at the waist. It regulates the ascending and descending of qi and treats pain in the lower abdomen and back and leukorrhea. • The Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) regulates blood in the uterus and is used to treat gynecological and digestive problems as well as rebellious qi.

5. Girdle Vessel Dai Mai Penetrating Vessel Chong Mai

6. The Yin and Yang Motility Vessels (Qiao Mai) regulate the opening and closing of the eyes and muscle balance in the lower body. • They treat musculoskeletal and neurological problems as well as sleep disturbances. • For example, the Yin Qiao treats medial leg spasm, somnolence and night seizures, and the Yang Qiao treats lateral leg spasm, insomnia and day seizures.

7. Yang Motility Vessel Yang Qiao Mai Yin Motility Vessel Yin Qiao Mai

8. The Yin and Yang Linking Vessels (Wei Mai) connect all the Yin and Yang channels respectively. • The Yang Wei Mai treats problems similar to the Gallbladder Meridian and the Yin Wei Mai treats problems similar to the Pericardium Meridian.

9. Yang Linking Vessel Yang Wei Mai Yin Linking Vessel Yin Wei Mai

10. Each vessel has a confluent point, which we have noted earlier. In some cases the confluent point is a point of intersection of the vessel with a regular channel, in some cases it is not. • The confluent points are often paired, and the pairs have specific areas of influence

11. Conception vessel (LU-7) is paired with the Yin Motility Vessel (KID-6) • Treats: Chest, diaphragm and throat • Penetrating Vessel (SP-4) is paired with the Yin Linking Vessel (P-6) • Treats: Stomach, heart and chest

12. Governing Vessel (SI-3) is paired with the Yang Motility Vessel (BL-62) • Treats: Inner canthus, neck, ear, shoulder, upper back • Girdling Vessel (GB-41) is paired with the Yang Linking Vessel (SJ-5) • Treats: Outer canthus, cheek, neck, back of ears and shoulder

13. Sample Point Selection for TCM Patterns

14. This is a very simple methodology for constructing point combinations. It uses primarily very commonly-used points; other points with similar or more specialized functions may be substituted as you like. • Some points are marked with an asterisk (*); this means the point should be treated by moxibustion.

15. Substance Patterns

16. Qi • (Deficiency) ST36, SP6, REN6 • (Stagnation) LR3, LR14, LI4 • (Sinking Qi) DU20, ST36, REN6

17. Blood • (Deficiency) BL17*, SP6, BL20 • (Stasis) LR3, SP10, LI4 • (Heat) SP10, BL40

18. Fluids: see Kidney Yin Deficiency • Jing: see Kidney Jing Deficiency • Shen: see Heart patterns

19. Pathogen Patterns

20. Wind • (Exterior) LI4, LU7, GB20, BL12 • (Interior) GB16, GB20, DU20, GB31

21. Cold • (Exterior) LI4, LU7, BL12 • (Interior) REN4*, REN12*, ST36*

22. Heat • (Exterior) LI4, LI11, DU14 • (Interior) LI11, DU14 (XS); K3, K6 (Def)

23. Damp • SP9, BL20, REN9; add LI11 if Damp Heat

24. Summerheat • LI11, DU14; add SP9 if Damp

25. Phlegm • SP9, ST40; add LI11 if Heat • (Lung) LU5 • (Heart) P5

26. Zang Fu Patterns

27. Lung • (Exterior pattern) LI4, LU7; LI11, TB5 if Heat • (Phlegm) LU5, ST40; add LU10 if Heat • (Qi def) LU9, SP3, BL13 • (Yin def) LU5, LU9, K3

28. Heart / SI • (Qi def) H7, BL15, ST36 • (Blood def) H7, BL15, SP6, BL17* • (Yang def) K3, H5, SI4 • (Yin def) K3 (or K6), H6, BL15 • (Fire) H8, K6, REN14 ; (->SI add ST39, REN4) • (Blood Stasis) SP4, P6, P4, REN17 • (Phlegm) P5, ST40

29. Spleen / Stomach • (Qi def) SP3, SP6, ST36, BL20 • (Yang def) as above, add K7, BL23* • (Rebellious Qi) P6, ST36, REN12 • (ST Heat) ST44, ST34, REN12

30. Liver / GB • (Qi stag) LR3, LR14, GB34 • (Blood def) LR3, BL17*, SP6 • (Fire) LR2, GB43, SJ6 • (Yang rising) LR3, K3, DU20 • (GB Damp Heat) GB24, GB34, GB43

31. Kidney / BL • (Yang def) K3, BL23, DU4* • (Yin def) K3, K6, BL23 • (Qi def) K3, BL23, ST36 • (Jing def) K3, DU4, REN4 • (BL Damp Heat) REN3, SP9, BL28

32. Large Intestine • (Damp Heat) ST25, ST37, LI11, SP9 • (Cold) ST25*, BL25*, REN12*, ST37 • (Dry) TB6, SP6, ST25, KI6

33. Review for Final

34. THE FIVE SHU POINTS

35. Jing-well Points • Where the Qi of the Channel emerges • Restores consciousness • Clears Heat & Stagnation, especially from the opposite end of the channel • Calms the Spirit (Shen) • Treats fullness below the Heart

36. Examples • Bleed all twelve jing-well points in for excess-type (Heat) collapse • LU-11 for acute sore throat and mumps. • HE-9 for Heart or chest pain • Several Jing-Well point indicated for mania

37. Ying-spring Points • Where the Qi of the Channel “glides” • Clears heat from the channel/organ (fire & water point) • Effect on the opposite end of the channel (less than Jing-well) • Can substitute for Jing-well • Can combine w/Shu-stream to treat Zang

38. Examples • LU-10 clears heat from the throat and/or Lung • KID-2 clears deficiency heat from the Kidneys • LIV-2 clears Liver fire • GB-43 clears heat from the GB channel. • ST-44 clears fire from the Stomach channel

39. Shu-stream Points • Where Qi of the Channel begins to pour • Yin Channels: same as Yuan-source pts • Heaviness &/or pain of the joints • Combine w/ Ying-spring to treat the Yin organs • Yang Shu-stream: channel stagnation • Diseases which “come and go” - chronic

40. Examples • LU-9, SP-3, HE-7, KID-3, LIV-3 all tonify their associated zang (Shu-stream + Yuan-source) • GB-41 disperses qi stagnation throughout the shaoyang channel • SI-3 for all disorders of the neck

41. Jing-river Points • Qi of the Channel begins to flow heavily • Cough, Fever & Chills • Change in voice • Disorders of the muscles, tendons, bones, joints

42. Examples • LU-8: cough, asthma, wheezing • HE-4: sudden loss of voice • BL-60: stiff neck, lumbar pain • LIV-4: contracted sinews, lumbar pain

43. He-sea Points • Where the Qi of the Channel “unites with the sea” -- communicates with organs • Rebellious Qi, diarrhea, abnormal leakage of fluids • Skin diseases • Treats the Fu organs

44. Examples • ST-36: every kind of Stomach or Spleen disease • SP-9: lack of appetite, diarrhea • L.I.-11: skin diseases, itching of the skin • LIV-8: itching of the genitals

45. Mother-Child Points • AKA, “Tonification (Supplementation)” and • “Dispersion (Sedation) (Draining)” Points • Based on Five-Phase (Five-Element) theory, specifically Classic of Difficulties 69. • Most often applied to Yin channels

46. Classic of Difficulties 69 • “In deficiency, tonify the Mother • In excess, drain the Child • Tonify first and then drain”

47. Mother Point = Point representing phase/ element preceding affected channel on Sheng (Generating cycle) • Example: Lung Deficiency: Tonify LU9 (Earth point on Metal Channel) • Child Point = Point representing phase/ element following affected channel on Sheng (Generating cycle) • Example: Lung Excess: Drain LU5 (Water point on Metal Channel)

48. Mother-Child Points

49. YUAN-SOURCE POINTS • Each of the twelve primary channels has a yuan-source point where it is said the original qi surfaces and lingers. • On yin channels, the yuan-source points are the same as the shu-stream points. • “When the five zang are diseased, select the yuan-source points”, they are the primary point on the yin channels for this purpose.

50. On the yang channels their importance and indications they are quite different from the yuan-source points of the yin channels. • Their principal actions are to dispel various kinds of excess pathogenic factors and to treat disorders along the pathway of their respective channels.