Acupuncture points for the treatment of human backpain

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CHOICE OF POINTS IN AP THERAPY

 

The points for treatment depend on the organs and parts involved. In classical AP, there are many Laws or guides to the choice of points. 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 for some of the prescriptions in the database (Appendices 2 and 3) in detail, under 3 categories:

 

1. Local areas or regions

 

2. Conditions of specific organs or their functions

 

3. Generalised conditions and complex syndromes.

 

In each of the following prescriptions, codes (a)-(n) above are used to show the Laws observed by the "Top Ten" points in the database.

 

1. LOCAL AREAS OR REGIONS (Examples from Appendix 2).

 

NECK: GB20 (b); GV14 (b); LI04 (c, g, i); BL10 (b); SI03 (c, i, j); LI11 (c, i, j); OT01 (TP, a); GB21 (b, c, depending on site of pain); GB39 (c, j); SI15 (b). Combination GB20,21, BL10, GV14, SI15 also meets Law (e). 5/10 of the points are LOCAL.

 

SHOULDER AREA: LI15 (b, j); LI11 (c, i, j); TH14 (b, j); SI11 (b); SI09 (b); LI04 (e.g.j); OT01 (TP, a); SI10 (b); OT05 (Local points, b); BL11 (d, j). Combination of SI09, LI15 and a New Point 1" above the anterior axillary crease is known as the "Shoulder Triplet" (e). That is a powerful combination in shoulder pain. 6/10 points are LOCAL.

 

ELBOW: LI11 (b, i, j); TH05 (c, j); LI04 (c, g, i); HT03 (b, i); LU05 (b, i); LI10 (b); OT01 (TP, a); LI12 (b); TH10 (b); SI07 (c). 6/10 points are LOCAL.

 

THORACIC SPINE, BACK AREA: GV14 (b); BL40 (c); OT01 (TP, a); GV12 (b); OT05 (Local points, b); GV13 (b); X 35 (b, k); GV09 (b); BL60 (c); OT06 (c). 6/10 points are LOCAL.

 

DORSOLUMBAR SPINE AND AREA: BL40 (c, j); BL23 (b, j); X 35 (b); BL60 (c); OT01 (TP, a); BL37 (c); GB30 (c- via BL link); GV14 (b, c); OT05 (Local points, b); OT06 (c). 4/10 points are LOCAL (2 out of the first 3).

 

LOWBACK: BL23 (b, j); BL40 (c, i, j); GB30 (c- linked to lowback via BL Channel, d, j); BL60 (c, i, j); GB34 (c- via BL link-, i, j); BL25(b); BL37 (c); GV04 (b); BL57 (c); BL31 (b). 4/10 points are LOCAL.

 

COCCYGEAL AREA: BL34 (b); BL40 (c, j); SI06 (g, j); BL30 (b); OT01 (TP, a); BL37 (b); X 35 (b, k); OT05 (Local points, b); OT06 (c); BL35 (b). 6/10 points are LOCAL.

 

HIP: GB30 (b, j); GB34 (c, i, j); GB29 (b); GB31 (c); BL40 (c- via GB30 link-, i, j); BL60 (c, i, j); OT01 (TP, a); GB39 (c, i, j); ST36 (d, i); LV08 (g). Although only 2/10 points are LOCAL, 2 of the top 3 are LOCAL.

 

THIGH, FEMUR: GB30 (b, j); GB31(b); GB34 (c, j); LV08 (c); ST36 (c); BL23 (j); LV11 (b); BL40 (b, c); BL37 (b); SP06 (c, l). 5/10 points are LOCAL.

 

KNEE AND POPLITEAL AREA: GB34 (b, i, j); BL40 (b, i, j); L 16 (b, k); ST35 (b); SP09 (b); ST36 (b, c, i); ST34 (b); LV08 (c); OT01 (TP, a). 9/10 points are LOCAL. The first 5 points are the most commonly used and obey Law (e).

 

In most local problems (joint, muscle, superficial organ etc), as in the 10 examples above, the best prescription combines TPs plus LOCAL points plus DISTANT points on the affected or related Channel. It is important to check the location as regards the nerve supply and the Channel. The best points for the anterior of the shoulder may not be the best ones for the posterior of the shoulder. Furthermore, some local points are more often recommended than others.