Atlas of Acupuncture

8 Point Categories and Point Selection

Shu-stream points (shu xue)

located at the distal ends of the metatarsal bones) as well as

LU-9, HE-7and P-7(all located on the wrist joint space).

Actions

They are considered to be the entry points for pathogenic factors;

needling these points can strengthen the Defensive Qi (wei qi)

(➞1.1.4) and eliminate pathogenic factors from the respective

channel. At the shu-stream points, the Qi flow is already somewhat

deeper: the bed of the river is widening and deepening.

Indications

For bi-syndromes of the joints, especially due to Damp or patho-

genic Wind. They are generally used for heaviness of the body

as well as for shaoyang syndrome with intermittent symptoms.

● Points on the Yang channels are predominantly used for Exterior

syndromes: they have a specific action on their respective channel.

● Points on the Yin channels are more commonly used for

Interior syndromes; they strengthen and harmonise their

respective zang-Organs (this is in part due to these points also

being the yuan-source points).

BL-66 BL-65 BL-64

T.B.-2

Proximal to the interdigital fold

Proximal to the G.B.-43

interdigital fold

According to the Five Phases (➞8.2.5) the shu-stream points of

the Yin channelscorrespond to the Earth pointsand yuan-

Source points(➞8.1.1), while those on the Yang channelscor-

respond to the Wood points.

Location:counting from the periphery, they are the third point

of each channel, the only exception being the G.B. channel (4th

point on the channel). They are located proximal to the metacar-

pophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joints, except for KID-3

(posterior to the medial malleolus), LIV-3and SP-3 (both

Joint space

Radial artery

LU-9

Carpal bones

Abductor

pollicis longus

1 cunLU-8

SP-3

Tendon of

the flexor

carpi ulnaris

Pisiform HE-7

Joint space

Achilles

tendon

Highest prominence of

the medial malleolus KID-3

P-7

1,5–2 cun

LIV-3

Interdigital fold

LIV-2

Shu-transporting points of the Yin channels

Phase/ Wood Fire Earth Metal Water

channel point point point point point

LU LU-11 LU-10 LU-9 
 LU-8 LU-5 

SP SP-1 SP-2 
 SP-3 SP-5  SP-9

HE HE-9 
 HE-8 HE-7  HE-4 HE-3

KID KID-1  KID-2 KID-3 KID-7 
 KID-10

P P-9 
 P-8 P-7  P-5 P-3

LIV LIV-1 LIV-2 LIV-3 LIV-4 LIV-8 


Channel Jing-well Ying- Shu- Jing- He-sea

Qi flow point spring stream river point

point point point

Shu-transporting points of the Yang channels

Phase/ Metal Water Wood Fire Earth

channel point point point point point

L.I. L.I.-1 L.I.-2  L.I.-3 L.I.-5 L.I.-11


ST ST-45  ST-44 ST-43 ST-41
 ST-36

S.I. S.I.-1 S.I.-2 S.I.-3 
 S.I.-5 S.I.-8 

BL BL-67 
 BL-66 BL-65  BL-60 BL-40

T.B. T.B.-1 T.B.-2 T.B.-3 
 T.B.-6 T.B.-10 

G.B. G.B.-44 G.B.-43
 G.B.-41 G.B.-38G.B.-34

Channel Jing-well Ying- Shu- Jing- He-sea

Qi flow point spring stream river point

point point point


, tonification point; , sedation point

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