Brief Introduction to Acupoints

Lecturer: QU Hongyan

Acupoints

General Introduction to acupoints1. concept2. classification3. therapeutic properties4. specific points5. methods for locating acupoints

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.

2. Classification of Acupoints

Fourteen meridian points Extraordinary points A-shi points

Meridian points

concept——have fixed names and locations; belong to fourteen meridians.e.g.

Hegu(LI4) 、 Zusanli(ST36)

features——they have definate names 、fixed locations and meridian tropism

effect——treat the disorders of the pertained meridians

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Extraordinary points concept——the points that have definite l

ocations 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)

features——definite names, fixed location effect——have special therapeutic effect

to some disorders

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A-shi points

concept——also called “tender spots”, “sensitive points”. These points have neither specific names nor definite locations.

features——they have no definate names 、fixed locations and meridian tropism 　

effect——certain diseases

3. Therapeutic properties of acupoints

Local and adjacent properties Remote properties Special properties

（ 1 ） bi-directional beneficial regulation

（ 2 ） relative specificity

(1) Local and adjacent properties

concept： all acupoints can treat disorders of nearby tissues and organs.

examples： ocular regions　　　　 upper abdomen　　　　 the knee　　　　 A-shi point——can treat the localiz

ed disorders of itself

　　　　　

(2)Remote properties concept： the meridian points, especiall

y 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

basis：“ the indications of points extend to where their pertinent meridians reach” 。

examples： Hegu(LI 4) Zusanli(ST 36)

(3)Special properties concept： some points have certain specia

l effects such as bi-directional regulation, general regulation, and other specific actions.

basis： clinical practice examples： Tianshu(ST 25) 、 Neiguan(PC 6)

Dazhui(GV14) 、 Zhiyin(BL67)

4. Specific points

Specific points refer to those points of the fourteen cha

nnels that have special therapeutic effects and are specific

ally named under certain categories.

the commonly used specific points are Five Transport

points, Yuan-Source points, Luo-Connecting points, Xi-Clef

t points, Back-Shu points, Front-Mu points, Lower-He Sea

points, Eight Influential points, Eight Confluent points and C

rossing points.

Five transport points

Five transport points refer to five groups of points distri

buted distally to the elbow or knee joints, namely Jing-Well,

Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea. The ter

ms and locations of the Five transport points were stated in

Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).

Yuan-Source points

”Yuan” means source or original qi, which is the origina

l power of vital activities. The term of the Yuan-Source poin

ts was first mentioned in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).

Yuan-Source points are a group of regular channel poi

nts located near the wrist or ankle, and these are the place

s where the original qi of zang-fu organs and channels pas

ses and gathers.

Luo-Connecting points

Luo-Connecting points are the sites where the Fifteen

Collaterals branch out from the channels (including the Gov

ernor Vessel and Conception Vessel).

”Luo” means connecting.The term of the Luo-Connectin

g points was first recorded in Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot). Th

ey are called“ Fifteen Luo-Connecting points”.

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 AB

C Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Most Xi-Cleft points are situated distal to the el

bow or knee joints. How many Xi-Cleft

points in human body?

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 later

al line of the Bladder meridian of Foot-Taiyang, and are lon

gitudinally distributed roughly according to the anatomic po

sition of the zang-fu organs.

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 organ

s 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 cor

responding zang or fu-organs.

Lower He-Sea points

Lower He-Sea points, also called Lower He-S

ea points of six fu-organs, refer to the six points w

here the qi of the six fu-organs pours downward to

ward 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 si

x Lower He-Sea points in total.

Eight Influential points

The Eight Influential Points refer to the eight points whi

ch are the gathering places for the zang-organs, fu-organs,

qi, blood, tendon, vessel, bone and marrow respectively. T

he 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 t

he 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.

Eight Confluent points

Eight confluent points refer to the eight points

on the four limbs where the twelve regular channel

s communicate with the eight extra meridians.

The term was first stated in Zhen Jing Zhi Nan

(Guidance to Acupuncture Classic). Eight Conflue

nt points are distributed distal to the wrist or the an

kles.

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.

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.

5. Methods for Locating Acupoints

Bone-length proportional measurementMeasurement with Anatomic LandmarksFinger measurementSimplified measurement

(1)Bone-length proportional measurement

concept ： It 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.

merits ： scientific and practical—applicable for different ages, sexes, and body sizes.

the commonly used are as follows:

分部 部位起点 常用骨度 度量法 说明

头部 前发际至后发际 12寸 直量 如前后发际不明，从眉心量至大椎穴作 18寸。眉心至前发际 3

寸，大椎至后发际 3寸

胸腹部

两乳头之间 8寸 横量

胸部与胁肋部取穴直寸，一般根据肋骨计算，每一肋两穴间作 1寸 6分

胸剑联合至脐中 8寸

直量脐中至趾骨联合上缘 5寸

背腰部 大椎以下至尾骶 21椎　 直量 背部直寸根据脊椎定穴，肩胛骨下角相当第七（胸）椎，髂嵴相

当第十六椎（第四腰椎棘突）。背部横寸以两肩胛内缘作 6寸

上肢部

腋前纹头至肘横纹 9寸

直量 用于手三阴、手三阳经的骨度分寸肘横纹至腕横纹 12寸

下肢部

耻骨上缘至股骨内上踝上缘

18寸直量 用于足三阴经的骨度分寸

胫骨内髁下缘至内踝尖 13寸

股头大转子至膝中 19寸

直量 用于足三阳经的骨度分寸；“膝中”前面相当犊鼻穴，后面相当委中穴；臀横纹至膝中，作 14寸折量膝中至外踝

尖 16寸

head、chestback

The lateral

Lower limbscontinue

back

Back

back

back

(2) Measurement with Anatomic Landmarks

concept ： locating by referring to the anatomic landmarks on the body surface.

types ： fixed anatomic landmarks moving landmarks

(3)Finger measurement

Concept ： using the length and width of the patient’s finger (s) as a standard to locate points.

Types ： middle finger measurement

thumb measurement

four-finger measurement

(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.