Choice of Acupuncture points for particular conditions
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR COMMON SYMPTOMS
The database was searched for a cross-section of common symptoms, especially those relating to the musculoskeletal system (pain, paralysis) and to major body functions. The Top Twenty points and their scores for some 130 symptoms or conditions are listed in Appendix 3. It must be remembered that only the Top Twenty points are given here. There are many other points which could be considered, especially if a number of symptoms occur together. In complicated cases, for example, neurogenic vomiting and dehydration in the dog, points for the main symptom (vomiting: PC06; ST36; CV12; ST25) could be combined with supportive therapy (fluid replacement).
In cases of anaesthetic emergency or respiratory arrest, main points (GV26, KI01) could be combined with artificial respiration (though the latter is seldom needed if the points are stimulated strongly). In cases where cardiac arrest has also occurred, point PC06 (very powerful on heart and lungs) could be added to GV26, KI01, and open or closed heart massage, defibrillation or other methods would be added.
Please scan Appendices 1, 2 and 3 now, and then return to the discussion which follows.
MASTER POINTS FOR CHANNEL THERAPY
Apart from the 66 Command Points, there are other powerful points to redistribute Qi between imbalanced Channels. These are the Shu-Back Association (Reflex) Points, the Mu-Front Alarm Points, the Luo-Passage (Connecting Points between the Phase-Mate Channels within one Phase), the Xi-Cleft Points, the Test Points, the Ryodoraku (Japanese Points), and the HE (Sea Points). The latter points are not the same as the HO points on the Channels. In addition there is an Hour Point (the Phase point of a Channel, for example the Earth Point of SP, the Water point of BL etc). SP21 is the Great Luo point (Luo point of all the Yin Channels).
Taken together, the 66 Command/Su Points, plus the Shu, Mu, Luo, Xi, Test, Ryodoraku, HE, Hour and SP21 Points are called the Master Points of AP.
The Five Phase Points Tonic Sedat. Affected COS Wood Fire Earth Metal Water point point Yuan Luo
LV (Wood-Yin ) 01 02 03 04 08 08 02 03 05
GB (Wood-Yang) 41 38 34 44 43 43 38 40 37
HT (Fire-Yin ) 09 08 07 04 03 09 07 07 05
SI (Fire-Yang) 03 05 08 01 02 03 08 04 07
PC (Fire-Yin ) 09 08 07 05 03 09 07 07 06
TH (Fire-Yang) 03 06 10 01 02 03 10 04 05
SP (Earth-Yin ) 01 02 03 05 09 02 05 03 04
ST (Earth-Yang) 43 41 36 45 44 41 45 42 40
LU (Metal-Yin ) 11 10 09 08 05 09 05 09 07
LI (Metal-Yang) 03 05 11 01 02 11 02 04 06
KI (Water-Yin ) 01 02 03 07 10 07 01 03 04
BL (Water-Yang) 65 60 54 67 66 67 65 64 58
Xi- RYODO HE Cleft HOUR Test -RAKU (SEA) Affected COS Shu Mu point point point point point LV (Wood-Yin ) BL18 LV14 06 01 08 03 - GB (Wood-Yang) BL19 GB24 36 41 33-39 40 GB34 HT (Fire-Yin ) BL15 CV14 06 08 07-09 07 - SI (Fire-Yang) BL27 CV04 06 05 03-04 05 ST39 PC (Fire-Yin ) BL14 CV17 04 08 04 07 - TH (Fire-Yang) BL22 CV05 07 06 04-10 04 BL53 SP (Earth-Yin ) BL20 LV13 08 03 09 02 - ST (Earth-Yang) BL21 CV12 34 36 34-36 43 ST36 LU (Metal-Yin ) BL13 LU01 06 08 06 09 - LI (Metal-Yang) BL25 ST25 07 01 11 05 ST37 KI (Water-Yin ) BL23 GB25 05 10 07 05 - BL (Water-Yang) BL28 CV03 63 66 59-60 65 BL54
1. In disorder of the associated Channel-Organ System (COS), there is usually tenderness on palpation of the Yuan, Mu, Shu and Test points. The Test points may feel cold in Yin states and hot in Yang states. The RYODORAKU points are electro-sensitive diagnostic points used in Japanese diagnosis. Their readings are hypo- in Yin and hyper- in Yang states.
2.All MASTER points, except Shu, Mu and HE points, are on their respective Channels and lie between the elbow and finger or between the knee and toe.
3. The Yuan-Luo combination uses the Yuan of the affected Channel with the Luo of the Phase-Mate Channel, i.e in lung disease, LU09 (Yuan of LU) plus LI06 (Luo of LI).
An examination of most of the listings in Appendices 2 and 3 shows that the Top Ten points obey the basic laws of choosing AP points. In summary, these laws suggest a choice of points from:
a.AhShi points (including Trigger Points, tender scars, fibrositic nodules etc)
b.Local points (which also meet condition (d)).
c.Distant points on the Channel through the affected area or on the Channel of the affected organ. A chain of points on the affected Channel is said to be specially powerful.
d.Points on the affected nerve, the nerve supply related to the affected organ or area, or in the same or a nearby spinal nerve segment.
e.Encircling the problem area; "Fore and Aft" points; combination of Yin side and Yang side points (medial/lateral; anterior/posterior).
f.Combination of Mu and Shu (Front Alarm + Back Association) points.
g.Combination of affected Yuan and Luo of Mate (Source Point of the affected Channel plus Passage point of its Phase-Mate Channel (LU-LI; ST-SP; HT-SI; BL-KI; PC-TH; GB-LV).
h.Xi-Cleft point of affected Channel.
i. One or more of the Five Phase Points (Energetic balancing points).
j.Symptomatic points (traditionally known to have marked effect for the specific symptoms, for example, GV26 in shock, emergencies; PC06 in nausea or vomiting).
k.Extra-Channel points ("New" or "Strange" points, points not on the Main Channels), especially those effective for the condition, e.g. NX04 (TingChuan) in asthma.
l.Points on the Phase-Mate of the affected Channel (e.g.) ST points in spleen diseases; SP points in stomach diseases.
m.TianYing point (OT02, centre of the goitre etc).
n.One point on each of the 4 limbs (e.g. LI04 and ST44, both bilateral, in tonsillitis or toothache).
Let us examine the Top Ten points from some prescriptions (Appendices 2,3) in detail under three basic headings:
1. Local conditions or regions
2. Conditions of specific internal organs or their functions
3. Generalised conditions and complex syndromes.
In each of these conditions, codes (a) to (n) mentioned above are used to show the laws observed by the points in the Top Ten list.