The choice of Acupuncture points for AP therapy

ALTERNATION OF POINTS

In generalised or systemic conditions, points are often used bilaterally. Thus, if 20 points appeared in the primary and secondary lists, one would have to needle 40 points if all were used!

To limit needles to 6-12 per session, points may be alternated between sessions. For example, primary points in the prescription for diarrhoea are: ST25,36,37; CV04,06,12; SP04,06,09; BL20,25; LV13. One could alternate the points as follows: (bi = bilateral):

Diarrhoea: Session 1: ST25 bi (Local and LI Shu point); CV04 (local and SI Shu point) SP06 bi (symptom point and used in low abdominal disorders); BL20 bi (SP Shu, frequently recommended in diarrhoea). Total 7 needles.

Session 2: ST36 bi (symptom point ); CV06 (Local and in an appropriate neural segment); CV12 (ST Shu; ST is often upset in diarrhoea); SP04 bi (distant point on SP Channel, which traverses affected area and is also appropriate for the symptom); BL25 bi (LI Shu). Total 6 needles.

Session 3: ST37 bi (symptom point); CV04 (SI Mu and local point); SP09 bi (distant point on an appropriate Channel); LV13 bi (SP Mu and on the appropriate Channel). Total 7 needles.

These combinations reduce the number of needles to 7 or 8 per session and meet the major requirements for choosing points. They should be successful. In acute diarrhoea, a response is usually evident after one or two sessions over a 24 hour period. Further sessions are seldom required but may be given over the following days to ensure that the symptoms do not recur.

POINT SELECTION BY PULSE

DIAGNOSIS: In classic human AP, the Laws listed above are used in choosing points. However, the Five Phase Points are said to be very important also. Their choice in each case is based on (a) the symptom picture (which may indicate imbalances between the Phases and within one or more Phases) and (b) the CHINESE PULSE DIAGNOSIS. In Western AP the CHINESE PULSE method is largely ignored, mainly because of lack of expertise. Modern texts from China, Taiwan and Hongkong also ignore it, or give it very brief discussion. Furthermore, high therapeutic success rates are reported by physicians who ignore the Pulse system. However, in skilled hands, Pulse Diagnosis can be extraordinarily accurate but I believe it to be a psychic rather than a physical, objectively demonstrable phenomenon. Those who wish to study Pulse Diagnosis will find details in Wu Wei Ping, Mary Austin or Nguyen van Nghi (see references).

In vet AP, even if one wished to use the PULSE system, this would be impossible to transpose directly because of anatomical differences in the arteries and also because the Five Phase Points are located on those parts of the limbs which show the greatest anatomical differences from Homo sapiens, with his/her five digits. (Some traditional vet texts, including Klide and Kung, report that the CHINESE PULSES may be taken in animals on the carotid or other accessible arteries but few of the vet colleagues whom I know use this system. Other psychic methods of Pulse assessment include taking a "surrogate pulse", possibly one's own or the client's or to use dowsing/divining method (pendulum etc). These methods are rarely used.