Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Pathway

The externalpathway of the Small Intestine primary channel

begins on the little finger, on the ulnar corner of the nail, at

S.I.-1(shaoze). This point is reached by a branch that separates

from the Heart primary channel at ➞HE-9(shaochong) (hand

Yin–Yang connection of the second great circuit).

The channel runs along the ulnar border of the hand, passes the wrist

and continues along the ulna to the medial aspects of the elbow.

➡passes between the olecranon and the medial epicondyle,

ascends the posterior aspect of the humerus to the shoulder

joint and, according to some authors, meets ➞L.I.-14

➡zig-zags across the scapula, passes ➞ BL-41(fufen) and

➞BL-11(dazhu) and meets the extraordinary vessel du mai

and the other Yang primary channels at ➞Du-14(dazhui),

below the spinous process of C7

➡continues anteriorly to the supraclavicular fossa to ➞ST-12

(quepen).

An internalbranch originates at ➞ST-12and runs inferiorly to

the Heart (xin), the paired zang-Organ, continues to ➞Ren-17

and descends along the oesophagus, penetrates the diaphragm

and continues to the Stomach (wei). Here it crosses ➞Ren-13

(shangwan) and ➞Ren-12(zhongwan), further descends and

spreads in its pertaining fu-Organ, the Small Intestine (xiaochang).

According to the Neijing Ling Shu, an internalbranch courses

from the Small Intestine (according to some authors from the

Small Intestine primary channel) to ➞ST-39(xiajuxu), the

lower he-sea point of the Small Intestine.

The externalpathway of the Small Intestine primary channel

continues from the supraclavicular fossa along the neck and

ascends to the cheek to S.I.-18(quanliao).

From S.I.-18

➡a branchcourses to ➞BL-1(jingming) at the inner canthus

of the eye, where it connects with the Bladder primary chan-

nel (six channel theory, Yang axes: taiyang)

➡a further branchtravels to the outer canthus of the eye, inter-

sects with ➞G.B.-1(tongziliao), according to some authors

also with ➞T.B.-20and ➞G.B.-11, continues to ➞T.B-22

(erheliao) anterior to the ear and terminates anterior to the ear

deep to S.I.-19(tinggong)

Clinical importance (➡1.2)

Exterior (biao) signs and symptoms: Mouth and tongue ulcers,

cheek pain, neck pain, occipital stiffness, pain on the lateral

aspect of the shoulder and the upper arm

Interior (li) or zangfu-Organ signs and symptoms: Pain and dis-

tension of the upper abdomen, radiating to the genital region,

diarrhoea, epigastric pain with constipation

Connections of the Small Intestine primary

channel

Connections with other channels

Heart primary channel (shou shao yin jing)

Connection: Hand Yin–Yang connection of the second great circuit

Location: H-9:S.I.-1(on the hand)

Circulation: Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance: Exterior–Interior relationship

Bladder primary channel (zu tai yang jing)

Connection: Paired according to the six channel theory (hand–

foot pairing): tai yang(Yang axes of the second great circuit)

Location: S.I.-18➞BL-1(on the head)

Circulation: Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance: Above–below relationship

Connections with other zangfu-Organ systems

Heart (xin), Stomach (wei), Small Intestine (xiaochang)

4.6.2 The Small Intestine Divergent

Channel (shou tai yang jing bie)

G.B.-22

G.B.-22

S.I.-12

Or S.I.-10

Pathway

The Small Intestine divergent channel separates from the Small

Intestine primary channel at the shoulder, depending on the

school of thought in the area of ➞S.I.-12(bingfeng) or in the

area of ➞S.I.-10(naoshu)

➡descends towards the axilla and continues to ➞G.B.-22

(yuanye)

➡penetrates the thorax and spreads in the Heart (xin) where,

according to most authors, it forms the fourth confluence

➡penetrates the diaphragm to connect with its pertaining

fu-Organ, the Small Intestine

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