Channels, Functions and Indications

The Lung has five principal functions:

• governing qi and controlling respiration.

• controlling disseminating and descending.

• regulating the water passages.

• controlling the skin and body hair.

• opening into the nose.

• treating rebellion of Lung qi manifesting asrespiratory disorders such as coughing, dyspnoea,wheezing, asthma and shortness of breath.• restoring the Lung’s disseminating function whenthis is impaired by exterior pathogenic factors whichlodge in the superficial portion of the body.• treating nasal disorders, including nosebleed andnasal obstruction.• treating disorders of the throat such as dryness, soreness,congestion, swelling and pain.• treating oedema and obstructed urination when thisis caused by impairment of the Lung’s function ofregulating the water passages and controlling disseminatingand descending.• treating vomiting due to rebellion of Stomach qi.

Large Intestine channelIn the Chinese tradition ’the sage faces South’ and thus the

light and warmth of the sun fall on the front of the body.

The yangming channels, on the anterior of the limbs,

receive the full intensity of the sun, as does the abdominal

and chest portion of the foot yangming Stomach channel,

the only yang channel to run along the anterior of the

body. For this reason, yangming or ‘yang brightness’ is

considered to be particularly replete with yang qi. Points

of the Large Intestine channel, therefore, are among the

most important points to clear excess of yang in the form

of heat and fever, notably Hegu L.I.-4 and Quchi L.I.-11

points of the Large Intestine channel

• treating all disorders of the yangming channel in the head;

this area includes the face and cheeks, forehead, eyes, nose,

lips, gums and teeth.

• treating disorders of the ear (Large Intestine luoconnecting

channel).

• expelling wind, cold and heat from the exterior portion of the

body.

• clearing wind-heat, interior heat and fire poison from the

areas traversed by the channel, especially in the head.

• clearing yangming fire which disturbs the Heart and spirit.

• assisting the Lung in its function of opening the water

passages.

The functions of the Stomach fu are to control the ‘rotting and ripening’ of food, to control descending and to act as the first stage in the digestion of fluids.

Disharmony of the Stomach therefore manifests as i.disordersof appetite and digestion,

ii. distention and pain in the epigastrium due to failure of theStomach qi to descend, or

iii. belching, nausea or vomiting due to rebellious ascent ofStomach qi.

Many points of the Stomach channel, both local abdominalpoints and the more distal points, are used to treat suchdisorders.

According to the Spiritual Pivot1 “Yangming channel is abundant in qi and blood”. Points of foot yangming channel are therefore much used clinically to regulate qi and blood in the lower limb and to treat atrophy disorder and painful obstruction, hemiplegiaand pain of all kinds.

In the Chinese tradition the ’sage faces South’, and thus the light and warmth of the sun fall on the front of the body. The yangming channels on the anterior of the limbs receives the full intensity of the sun, as does the abdominal and chest portion of the foot yangming Stomach channel, the only yang channel to run along the anterior of the body. For this reason, yangming or ‘yang brightness’ is considered to be particularly full of yang qi. Points of the Stomach channel, therefore, are among the most important points to clear excess of yang in the form of febrile heat, or heat which rises to disturb the Heart and spirit.

Primary actions and indicationsof the points of the Stomach channel

• treating all disorders of the yangming channel in the head including the eyes, face and cheeks, forehead, nose, lips, gums and teeth.

• treating disorders of the ear.

• treating disorders of the throat.

• regulating the function of the intestines.

• treating disorders of the upper, middle and lower jiao, especially the Lung, Heart, chest, epigastrium, Stomach, Spleen, uterus and Bladder.

• tonifying qi, blood, yin and yang.

• treating both acute and chronic disorders of the breast.

• treating disturbance of the spirit, especially maniadepression.

The Spleen has five principal functions:

• Dominating the transportation and transformation of the liquid

and solid products of digestion after they have been ‘rotted

and ripened’ by the Stomach. It therefore plays a major role in

the digestive process, the production of qi and blood, the

function of the intestines and the proper discharge of fluid.

• Controlling the blood, dominating the first stage of its

formation and holding it in its proper place and preventing

haemorrhage.

• Dominating the muscles and the four limbs, providing vigour

and bulk.

• Opening into the mouth and dominating the sense of taste.

• Controlling the raising of qi to counteract sinking and prolapse.

Actions and indications of the points of the Spleen channel

• treating failure of the transportation and transformation function, resulting in borborygmus, loose stools, undigested food in the stool, poor appetite etc.

• treating disorders of the intestines such as dysenteric disorder, diarrhoea and constipation.

• treating retention of dampness and consequent qi stagnation resulting in distention and pain of the abdomen, oedema, heaviness of the body, soreness of the muscles and joints, swelling of the four limbs, difficult urination, leucorrhoea, somnolence, lethargy etc.

• tonifying qi and blood.

• resolving blood stasis, especially in the uterus, and cooling the blood.

• reinforcing the Spleen function of holding blood in its proper place.

• raising qi and treating prolapse.

• treating dyspnoea, fullness and distention of the chest and lateral costal region, sighing etc.

• calming and regulating the spirit.

• treating disorders of the genitals.

The Heart has five principal functions:

• governing the blood and blood vessels

• housing the spirit

• opening into the tongue

• governing sweating

• manifesting in the complexion

Actions and indications of the points of the Heart channel

• Treating pain of the chest and Heart and disorders of Heart rhythm. According to the Essential Questions “All blood pertains to the Heart”1 and “The Heart dominates the blood vessels of the body”2. The qi of the Heart and Lung (with which the Heart channel connects) dominate the gathering qi and thus the circulation of the blood through the chest as well as the rhythmical beating of the heart. All the points of the Heart channel (with the exception of Qingling HE-2) therefore treat either pain of the Heart and chest, or palpitations and other disorders of heart rhythm. Acute pain of the Heart and chest may radiate along the Heart channel in the left arm, down to the abdomen (Heart primary and sinew channels) or up to the throat (Heart primary and divergent channels). In current clinical practice, points of the Pericardium channel are mostly favoured for pain of the chest and Heart, whilst disorders of Heart rhythm are treated by selecting points from both channels.

• Regulating and calming the spirit. According to the Spiritual Pivot“The Heart

controls the vessels; the vessels are the residence of the spirit”, whilst the

Essential Questions says “The Heart stores the spirit”. Points of the Heart

channel, especially Tongli HE-5 and Shenmen HE-7, are among the most

important of the acupuncture points to harmonise and calm the spirit,

whether it loses its harmony due to deficiency and consequent lack of

nourishment, to agitation by heat and fire, or to being obscured by phlegm.

• Treating disorders of the tongue and speech, including loss of voice, stiffness

of the tongue, and painful and swollen tongue.

• Treating disorders of the throat such as pain, swelling and congestion.

• Treating disorders of the eyes. In addition to the Heart channel connections to

the eyes, this may be explained by the fact that the Heart belongs to

sovereign fire and the points of the Heart channel may be used to clear heat

from any part of the body, in the case of the eyes manifesting as redness,

swelling and pain.

• Treating various disorders of the face and complexion, thus for example Ma

Dan-yang says of Shenmen HE-7 “when excess ... the head, cheeks and face

are red, when deficient there is ... an expressionless face”.

Small Intestine’s status as a fire channel

• clearing heat from the pathways of the channel and reducing

fever, especially malarial fever (points Shaoze SI-1 to Wangu

SI-4).

• assisting in transforming phlegm and clearing heat from the

Heart zang, especially in the treatment of mania disorder

(Houxi SI-3, Yanggu SI-5, Zhizheng SI-7 and Xiaohai SI-8).

• cooling heat and fire and alleviating pain along the course of

the channel in the arm, axilla, shoulder, scapula, neck

(including mumps) and throat, jaw, mouth, teeth, tongue,

nose, cheek, eyes and ears. Points of the Small Intestine

channel are particularly indicated for swelling (mainly of the

neck, throat and cheek).

• treating disorders of the breast (Shaoze SI-1, Qiangu SI-2 and

Tianzong SI-11) and lateral costal region (Shaoze SI-1, Wangu SI-4,

Yanggu SI-5 and Tianzong SI-11). The meeting of the Small Intestine

primary channel with the centre of the chest at Shanzhong REN-17

can in part explain the action of these points on the breast, but

there is no obvious reason why points of the Small Intestine

channel should influence the lateral costal region.

• Note that even though the principal function of the Small Intestine fu

is to receive, transform and separate fluids, the only indications

relating to this function are dark and hesitant urination (Qiangu SI-2

and Houxi SI-3). Even more notably, despite the fact that the

channel connects with the diaphragm and Stomach, passes through

Zhongwan REN-12 and Shangwan REN-13, and descends to the

Small Intestine, no points of the Small Intestine channel are

indicated for disorders of the digestive system.

Points of the Bladder channelactions and indications:

• The taiyang Bladder channel, with sixty-seven points, is the longest channel in the body. It ascends over the head (yang) and then down the entire posterior, and hence most yang, portion of the body. Taiyangchannel is the most superficial of the six channels and is therefore the first to be attacked by exterior wind. Wind is a yang pathogen, and both exterior and interior wind have the tendency to ascend to the head and brain. Many of the points of the Bladder channel, therefore, are important in clinical practice to eliminate both exterior and interior wind from the body.

• The Bladder channel enters the brain, whilst the Bladder divergent channel connects with the Heart. Since the time of the Essential Questions, Chinese medicine has recognised that disharmony of the brain or Heart, either singly or together, can give rise to psycho-emotional disorders. Points of the Bladder channel on the head from Zanzhu BL-2 to BL-10, and on the foot from BL-60 to Zutonggu BL-66 all treat such disorders as mania and epilepsy. In addition certain of the back-shu points such as Feishu BL-13, XinshuBL-15 and Ganshu BL-18 treat a variety of disorders of the spirit, in this case due to their action on the Lung, Heart and Liver zang as much as their effect on the Bladder channel itself.

• Points Jingming BL-1 (at the inner canthus of the eye) to Tianzhu BL-10 (on the nape of the neck) expel exterior wind from their local area, pacify interior wind and treat disorders of the eyes, nose, head and face.

• The points of the inner, medial portion of the Bladder channel on the back have an enormous variety of actions and indications. Starting with Dazhu BL-11, the hui-meeting point of bone, through to PangguangshuBL-28, the back-shu point of the Bladder, these points have a profound effect on the zangfu and the various tissues, substances and sense organs of the body. Despite their express action on specific zangfu, however, some generalisations can be made. Points Dazhu BL-11 to Feishu BL-13 are able to expel exterior pathogens and regulate the Lung. Points Jueyinshu BL-14 and Xinshu BL-15 treat the Heart and spirit. Points Geshu BL-17 to Sanjiaoshu BL-22 treat disorders of the middle jiao (Stomach, Spleen, Liver and Gall Bladder). Points ShenshuBL-23 to Huiyang BL-35 and Baohuang BL-53 to Heyang BL-55 treat disorders of the Kidneys, lumbar region and lower jiao (intestines, Bladder, uterus, genitals, anus).

• Points of the outer, lateral, Bladder channel on the back from FufenBL-41 (level with Fengmen BL-12) through to Zhishi BL-52 (level with Shenshu BL-23) have similar indications to the corresponding points of the inner Bladder channel, although they are generally less extensive in their actions and indications. Exceptions are PohuBL-42 and Gaohuangshu BL-43 which have a profound effect on tonifying deficiency. It is well-known also that five of these points (Pohu BL-42, Shentang BL-44, Hunmen BL-47, Yishe BL-49 and Zhishi BL-52) are named after the five spiritual aspects. Despite the strong implication that these points may be used to treat disorders of these five aspects of a person’s psycho-emotional being, however, there is scanty evidence in classical texts that they have been used for this purpose.

• Points on the posterior portion of the thigh from Chengfu BL-36 to Kunlun BL-60 treat disorders of the lumbar region, anus and leg.

• Feiyang BL-58, located on the calf, is the first distal point of the Bladder

channel to have an effect on disorders of the head, and this action becomes

more pronounced as the channel travels distally towards Zhiyin BL-67, the

terminal point of the channel. The extreme yang nature of the taiyang

(supreme yang) Bladder channel, coupled with its penetration of the head

and brain, renders these points effective in the treatment of aggressive yang

pathogens, whether in the form of exterior wind or heat which injure the

upper part of the body, or in the form of interior wind, interior fire and

uprising of yang which assault the head and brain. These points, therefore,

are indicated in a variety of excess conditions affecting the head, brain and

sense organs.

• In keeping with the general characteristics of the channels, especially the yang

channels, the more distal the points, the stronger their effect on the channel

as a whole rather than simply their local area. This may be observed in the

indications for pointsKunlun BL-60 to Jinggu BL-64, which treat disorders of

the Bladder channel in the head, upper and lower back, upper and lower leg

and foot.

Kidneys : five principal functions

• storing essence and dominating reproduction, growth and development.

• producing marrow, filling up the brain, dominating bones and assisting in the production of blood.

• dominating water.

• controlling the reception of qi.

• opening into the ears and dominating the two lower yin (the anus and urethra).

Actions and indications of the points of the Kidney channel

• rooting pathologically ascending heat, qi, yang and wind. The Kidneys are the bottomost zang and the root of the yin in the body. When yin is deficient, deficiency heat, or uprising yang or interior wind may ascend to the throat, ears, eyes and head. Points of the Kidney channel are frequently used clinically both to nourish yin (e.g. TaixiKID-3) and to strongly descend pathogens from the head (e.g. Yongquan KID-1).

• nourishing yin and clearing deficiency heat in the treatment of night sweating, wasting and thirsting disorder etc.

• nourishing Liver yin to counteract uprising of Liver yang in the treatment of headache, dizziness etc.

• nourishing Kidney water to balance excessive Heart fire, and harmonising the will and the spirit in the treatment of restlessness, insomnia, poor memory, palpitations, epilepsy, mania, susceptibility to fright etc.

• rooting the qi and harmonising the relationship between the Kidneys and Lung in the treatment of cough, coughing of blood, dyspnoea, asthma, wheezing etc.

• tonifying Kidney yang to strengthen the Kidney function of dominating water in the treatment of oedema and deficiency type urinary disorders.

• tonifying Kidney yang to strengthen the libido in the treatment of impotence, seminal emission etc.

• tonifying Kidney yang to warm the lower body, legs and feet.

• benefiting the throat, especially in the treatment of sore and dry throat or loss of voice due to yin deficiency.

• strengthening the lumbar spine and benefiting the teeth.

• benefiting the ears in the treatment of tinnitus and deafness.

• regulating the Conception and Penetrating vessels and treating diseases of the uterus such as infertility, disordered menstruation, uterine prolapse, postpartum disorders etc.

• draining damp-heat from the lower jiao and regulating the function of the Bladder and intestines in the treatment of difficult urination, retention of urine, painful urinary dysfunction, dark urine, diarrhoea, dysenteric disorder, swelling, itching and pain of the genitals, shan disorder, hypogastric pain etc.

• nourishing Kidney yin in the treatment of constipation due to dryness.

Actions and indications of the points ofthe Pericardium channel

In the theory of differentiation of patterns according to the zangfu, the Pericardium has no patterns of disharmony of its own. The only discussion of Pericardium disorders per se follows on from its function as the wrapping or protector of the Heart, and the disturbance of consciousness manifesting as mental confusion and even coma that occurs during the course of febrile diseases is ascribed to the Pericardium rather than to the Heart.

• treating disorders of the Heart zang such as pain, palpitations, irregular

Heart rhythm etc.

• treating disorders of the spirit.

• treating disorders of the chest in general, including disharmony of the Lung.

• treating disorders of the upper or middle jiao due to stagnation of the qi of

the foot jueyin Liver channel with which the Pericardium channel is paired

according to six channel theory.

• treating disorders of the middle jiao, especially the Stomach.

• treating disorders of the lateral costal region (the Pericardium sinew

channel disperses over the anterior and posterior ribs).

• treating febrile diseases: the Pericardium belongs to fire, and takes the

brunt of attack by exterior pathogens that might otherwise injure the

Heart; the points of the Pericardium channel, therefore, are important in

the treatment of febrile diseases, especially at the nutritive and blood

levels and when there is disturbance of consciousness.

• treating swelling and pain of the axilla.

Actions and indications of the Sanjiaochannel points

Reducing fever. The Sanjiao channel belongs to fire and many of its points are indicated for febrile diseases, especially when due to exterior pathogenic factors. As far as differentiation of fevers according to the four levels is concerned, the Sanjiao channel primarily treats fevers at the defensive and qi levels, whilst the Pericardium channel mainly treats fevers at the nutritive and blood levels, although the most distal points of the Sanjiao channel (where the Pericardium and Sanjiao channels converge) are able to treat both. As far as differentiation of fevers according to the Sanjiao theory is concerned, points of the Sanjiao channel mainly treat febrile diseases affecting the upper jiao Lung pattern, although its most distal points also treat the upper jiao Pericardium pattern. As for fever differentiation according to the six channels, both the Spiritual Pivot and the Essential Questions3 state “Taiyang is the opening, yangming is the closing and shaoyang is the pivot”. The Sanjiao belongs to shaoyang (the pivot between exterior and interior) and several points of the channel are indicated for alternating chills and fever and malaria, the characteristic indications of shaoyang pattern. The heat-clearing action of the Sanjiao channel points extends to clearing heat from all regions traversed by the channel.

• Benefiting the ears. Various portions of the Sanjiaochannel encircle or enter the ear, and many of its points are indicated for disorders of the ear such as tinnitus and deafness, especially when due to heat, uprising of yang or other excess pathogenic factors.

• Clearing heat from the eyes, especially wind-heat and Liver-Gall Bladder heat.

• Clearing heat from the neck, throat and tongue.

• Soothing the Heart and calming the spirit. Due to the close relationship between the Sanjiao and Pericardium channels, many points of the Sanjiao channel are indicated for pain of the chest and Heart as well as agitation, restlessness, mania, epilepsy and other manifestations of disordered spirit.

• Treating headaches. Shaoyang channel traverses the temples and side of the head, and points of the Sanjiao channel are much used in the treatment of headaches affectingthis region.

• Harmonising the three jiao. Waiguan SJ-5 and Zhigou SJ-6 especially, are able to regulate the middlem and lower jiao in the treatment of vomiting and constipation.

Gall Bladder

belongs to the wood phase and its two principal functions are to store and excrete bile and to rule courage, decision-making and judgement.

Actions and indications ofthe points of the Gall Bladder channel

• treating disorders of the eyes, especially those due to exterior wind-heat or Liver and Gall Bladder channel heat.

• treating disorders of the ear, especially those due to exterior wind-heat or Liver and Gall Bladder channel heat.

• treating headaches, especially one-sided headaches affecting the shaoyang channel at the temple and side of the head.

• treating disorders of the Liver. The Liver rules the smooth flow of qi, and

when this free-flowing function of the Liver is impaired, qi will stagnate. At

the same time, the Liver and Gall Bladder are entrusted with the

ministerial fire and their stagnant qi readily transforms to fire. If Liver fire

consumes yin, it may give rise to the pattern of uprising of Liver yang,

whilst either Liver fire or Liver yang may generate interior wind. Liver qi

stagnation, Liver fire, Liver yang and Liver wind may all manifest along the

course of the Gall Bladder channel in the head, ears, eyes, chest, breast

and lateral costal region.

• treating phlegm disorders, scrofula and nodules. The smooth flow of body

fluids is in part dependent on the free-flowing of the Liver qi, whilst Liver

fire may condense body fluids into phlegm. Points of the Gall Bladder

channel are indicated for stagnant qi and phlegm (and the consequent)

swelling and nodulation, in the throat, supraclavicular fossa, axilla and

breast, all regions traversed by various pathways of the Gall Bladder

primary and secondary channels.

• clearing damp-heat from the Gall Bladder fu, manifesting as

jaundice, pain of the lateral costal region, nausea and vomiting,

fever etc.

• clearing pathogenic factors from shaoyang level giving rise to

alternating chills and fever, bitter taste in the mouth,

hypochondriac pain, dryness of the mouth and throat, and

nausea and vomiting.

• treating disorders of the spirit and ethereal soul (hun):

i. the Gall Bladder rules judgement, decisiveness and courage, ii. its

divergent channel enters the Heart, and iii. the Gall Bladder

(wood) is the ‘mother’ of Heart (fire).

Points of the Gall Bladder channel are therefore able to treat

disorder of the spirit and ethereal soul (hun) due principally

either to Gall Bladder and Liver fire or Gall Bladder qi deficiency.

• the Girdling vessel only passes through three

acupuncture points, Daimai GB-26, Wushu GB-27

and Weidao GB-28, whilst its confluent point is

Zulinqi GB-41. This extraordinary vessel is therefore

principally influenced by selecting these Gall Bladder

channel points.

• the hui-meeting points of the sinews (Yanglingquan

GB-34) and the marrow (Xuanzhong GB-39) belong

to the Gall Bladder channel which traverses the

entire lateral portion of the leg. Many points of the

lower portion of this channel, therefore, are

important in the treatment of disorders such as

atrophy disorder and painful obstruction.

Liver five primary functions

• storing the blood.

• spreading (maintaining the free flow of) the qi.

• dominating the sinews.

• opening into the eyes.

• manifesting in the nails.

• the Liver zang belongs to the wood phase and corresponds to wind.

• the Liver governs uprising, and in disharmony its qi may therefore rise excessively.

• the Liver is entrusted with the ming men fire which in disharmony may easily flare

upwards as pathological heat.

• the Liver free-flowing function assists the qi movement of the zangfu, especially

the descending of Lung and Stomach qi and the ascending of Spleen qi.

• the Liver free-flowing function assists the qi transformation function of the

Bladder.

• the Liver stores the ethereal soul (hun) and as the wood zang is the ‘mother’ of the

Heart.

• the Liver stores the blood which flows into the Conception and Penetrating vessels

to become menstrual blood, and its qi is responsible for the smooth flow of

menstruation.

• the Liver is closely associated with such emotions as anger, irritability,

fractiousness, frustration, resentment, depression weepiness and mood swings.

Actions and indications of the points of the Liver channel

• resolving distention and pain due to stagnation of Liver qi in the

head, throat region, chest, Heart, Lung, Stomach, abdomen, lateral

costal region, lower abdomen, intestines and genitals.

• assisting in the descent of Stomach and Lung qi and the ascent of

Spleen qi.

• pacifying interior wind and uprising of yang giving nrise to headache,

dizziness, epilepsy, spasm etc.

• cooling Liver fire affecting any region of the body.

• benefiting the eyes.

• treating disorders characterised by pain and swelling of the external

genitals (especially in men) as well as seminal emission, ejaculatory

disorders, priapism and impotence.

• regulating menstruation and the menstrual cycle.

• treating shan disorder (a broad category that includes

hernia, genital swelling and pain, and severe pain of

the lower abdomen).

• treating disorders of urination such as urinary

retention, painful urinary dysfunction, incontinence,

frequent urination etc.

• treating lumbar pain.

• treating psycho-emotional disorders deriving from

Liver blood deficiency, Liver qi stagnation or Liver

fire, all of which may disturb the ethereal soul and

spirit.

Actions of the points of the Conception vessel

Treating disorders of their local area. All the Conception

vessel points below the umbilicus treat disorders of

urination and defecation, genital diseases, stagnation in the

lower abdomen and uterine and menstrual diseases.

Shenque REN-8 and Shuifen REN-9 treat disorders of the

intestines and abdomen. From Xiawan REN-10 up to Xuanji

REN-21 all the Conception vessel points treat stagnation

and rebellion of Stomach qi, even when their location is

high up on the chest. From Shangwan REN-13 upwards,

most points treat disorders of the Heart, and from Juque

REN-14 upwards, of the Lung and chest.

• Located on the soft, yielding and yin anterior surface of the body, the

Conception vessel points allow direct access to the zangfu. Six of

the front-mu points therefore are located on this channel (Zhongji

REN-3: the Bladder, Guanyuan REN-4: the Small Intestine; Shimen

REN-5: the Sanjiao; Zhongwan REN-12: the Stomach; Juque REN-14:

the Heart; Shanzhong The Conception vessel REN-17: the

Pericardium). In most cases these are fundamentally important

points to regulate their respective zangfu.

• The lower abdomen is the location of the dantian (cinnabar field),

the residence of the deepest energies of the body. Guanyuan REN-4

and Qihai REN-6 are therefore among the most important tonifying

and nourishing points of the body. Along with Shenque REN-8, they

are also able to rescue yang and restore consciousness in cases of

yang collapse.

Actions of the points of the Governing vessel

• Treating diseases of the anus, rectum, and intestines. The Governing vessel winds around the anal region and the lower points of this channel (Changqiang DU-1 to XuanshuDU-5) as well as Renzhong DU-26 above, treat diseases such as haemorrhoids, prolapse of the rectum and intestinal disorders.

• Treating diseases of the genitals, urinary system and uterus. The anterior pathway of the Governing vessel winds around the genitals, and points Changqiang DU-1 to Mingmen DU-4 treat diseases such as The Governing vessel 5 painful urinary dysfunction, urinary retention or difficulty, seminal emission, leucorrhoea and menstrual disturbance.

• Treating disorders of the spine. The Governing vessel ascends through the spinal column,

and its points treat disorders of the spine, predominantly at their corresponding level.

• Treating febrile diseases and reducing heat in the body. The Governing vessel is the ‘sea

of the yang channels’ and its points are effective to reduce yang heat manifesting as

heat of the body, fever and especially malaria.

• Treating diseases of the zangfu. As the Governing vessel ascends along the spine, its

points have the ability to treat diseases of the zangfu roughly corresponding to their

location. This correspondence does not exactly mirror the back-shu points. For example

Jinsuo DU-8 (which lies level with Ganshu BL-18, the back-shu point of the Liver) treats

disharmony of the Liver, and points Shendao DU-11 (level with Xinshu BL-15 the back-

shu point of the Heart) and Shenzhu DU-12 (level with Feishu BL-13 the back-shu point

of the Lung) treat diseases of the Heart and Lung respectively. Zhiyang DU-9, however

which lies beneath the seventh thoracic vertebra level with Geshu BL-17, treats

diseases of the Stomach and Spleen. There is also a system of correspondence

mentioned in the Essential Questions which was discontinued in later texts, whereby for

example Zhiyang DU-9 was said to treat heat in the Kidney, Lingtai DU-10 heat in the

Spleen, Shendao DU-11 heat in the Liver etc.

• Treating disorders of exterior or interior wind. Wind is a yang

pathogen, and the Governing vessel is the ‘sea of the yang

channels’. Many of its points are of vital importance in the

treatment of exterior wind (especially Dazhui DU-14 and Fengfu

DU-16), whilst from Jinsuo DU-8 upwards most points have a strong

action on pacifying interior wind giving rise to such disorders as

upward staring eyes, opisthotonos, lockjaw, dizziness, head wind,

windstroke, spasm and especially epilepsy.

• Treating disorders of the sense organs. From Yamen DU-15 upwards,

the points of the Governing vessel treat disorders of the tongue,

eyes, face and especially the nose, through which the central

portion of the channel descends.

• Treating disorders of the Heart zang, primarily pain and palpitations.

This may be explained by the passage of the anterior portion of the

Governing vessel through the Heart.

Treating disorders of the brain and spirit. It is striking how many points of the

Governing vessel are indicated for the kind of disharmony usually associated

with the Heart and spirit, for example mania-depression, manic behaviour,

agitation, poor memory, disorientation, palpitations, insomnia, loss of

consciousness and epilepsy.

Three main factors may help to illuminate this theoretical difficulty: i. different

traditions within Chinese medicine, ii. the influence of modern medicine, and

iii. the interrelationship of the Heart, blood, essence, brain and spirit.

In conclusion, the Governing vessel is the channel that mediates between the

brain and the Heart. Clinically many of its points may be used to treat a variety

of psychoemotional disorders, in much the same way that points of the twelve

principal channels may be used, especially those of the Heart and Pericardium.

If we try to be more precise about the use of the Governing vessel points, we

can suggest that i. their indications generally reflect excess patterns of spirit

disharmony such as mania-depression, and ii. they are especially indicated

when psycho-emotional disorders are accompanied by fullness and discomfort

of the head, dizziness, disturbance of consciousness and epilepsy.