Atlas of Acupuncture

2.3 Tips for Point Location

2.3.2 Patient Positioning and Body
Movements

To locate certain points, it can be very helpful to ask the patient
to assume a particular position or to perform a specific move-
ment.
Examples:

For locating points on the Pchannel on the forearm, ask the
patient to tightly press the thumb and little finger together.
This will make the tendons more visible (Fig. 2.6)

‘Tiger mouth grip’ as location help for LU-7and L.I.-6
(Fig. 2.7)

For locating L.I.-4, ask the patient to press his/her thumb and
index finger together. A muscle bulge will form; L.I.-4 is
located on its highest point (Fig. 2.8).

When turning the wrist joint from a pronated to a half-
supinated position, the palpating finger will glide into a bony
cleft just proximal to the styloid process of the ulna (S.I.-6,
fig 2.9).

As the palpating finger glides along the skin, the skin bulge
forming in front of it will ‘arrest’ the finger at the point to be
located. This method is very useful for quick location of cer-
tain points such as T.B.-5or P-6(Fig. 2.10).

P-7

Tendon of the

M. flexor

carpi radialis

Pisiform

Tendon of the

M. palmaris

longus

Wrist joint space

Pressing the thumb and little

finger together for better

presentation of the tendons

Fig. 2.6

Fig. 2.7

Highest point of the

muscle bulge

Midpoint Metacarpal II

L.I.-4

Fig. 2.8

Half-

supination

Initial position:

pronation

Distal part of the styloid process

of the ulna

Palpating finger

slides into the bony

cleft

Fig. 2.9

P-6

Fig. 2.10