Atlas of Acupuncture

8 Point Categories and Point Selection

Points

Yuan-source points of the Yin channels

LU-9(taiyuan) SP-3(taibai) HE-7(shenmen)

KID-3(taixi) P-7(daling) LIV-3(taichong)

● On the Yin channels the yuan-source point is always the 3rd

pointfrom the distal end of the channel

● They are identical with the shu-stream points and the Earth

point of the channel

Function

● They tonify deficiency or weakness of their pertaining zang-

Organ

● They regulate the Yin/Yang balance, restoring homeostasis

● As Earth points they have a ‘grounding’ effect on the body, the

emotions and the mind.

Yuan-source points of the Yang channels

L.I.-4(hegu) ST-42(chongyang) S.I.-4(wangu)

BL-64(jinggu) T.B.-4(yangchi) G.B.-40(qiuxu)

● On the Yang channels the yuan-source point is always the 4th

pointfrom the distal end of the channel, except for the G.B.

channel (5th point)

● Regarding the energetics of the channel, they are all located

between the shu-stream point and the jing-river point.

Function

● Their main function is to expel pathogenic factors in excess

syndromes

● They tonify their pertaining fu-Organ.

Clinical application

Diagnosis

Disorders of a particular channel or its pertaining zangfu-Organ

will often manifest themselves with tenderness, skin changes

such as discolorations, swellings, redness, etc. in the area of the

respective yuan-source point.

Therapy

● For deficiency of the relevant channel or Organ, use tonifying

needling techniques; for excess, use reducing techniques

● Combine with the luo-connecting point of its Interiorly–

Exteriorly paired channel (➞1.2.2) in order to increase the

therapeutic effect and to balance Yin and Yang (➞8.3.3)

● Combine with the respective Back-shupoint (➞8.1.4) for

disorders of the zangfu-Organs

8.1.2 Luo-Connecting Points

The luo-connecting points are located in those regions of the body

where the luo-network vessels (➞1.5) branch out, connecting the

Interiorly–Exteriorly paired Yin and Yang channels (➞1.2.2).

L.I.-4

T.B.-4

S.I.-4

P-7

LU-9 HE-7

KID-3

LIV-3

SP-3 BL-64

G.B.-40

ST-42

Yin Yang

L.I.-6

T.B.-5

P-6 S.I.-7

LU-7 HE-5

KID-4

LIV-5

SP-4

BL-58 G.B.-37

ST-40

Yin Yang

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