Atlas of Acupuncture

8.2 Strategies for Point Selection

Simple point selection according to the

shengcycle

For excess:If there is excess in a particular channel/Organ,

select that point on the channel which corresponds to the phase

of the son and needle it with reducing technique.

Example:Water is the son of Metal. If the Lung (Metal) is in

excess, needle the Water point (LU-5) on the Lung channel with

reducing technique.

Yin Yang

HE-9

P-9
 S.I.-3

L.I.-11

SJ 3 

L.I.-2

SP-2

KID-7

LIV-8


LIV-2

SP-5

ST-41

BL-67

BL-65

ST-45

HE-7

P-7

LU-9

LU-5

SJ 10 

S.I.-8

KID-1

G.B.-38

G.B.-43

Treatment principle:For deficiency tonify the mother, for

excess drain (sedate) the son. Mother–son points are identical to

the tonification and sedation points of a channel. The correct

needling technique is important in order to obtain the desired

result:

● tonifying method for tonification points

● reducing method for sedation points

Example for the clinical application of the

shengcycle

For deficiency:In cases of deficiency of a particular channel/

Organ, tonify that point on the affected channel that corresponds

to the phase of the mother.

Example:Earth is the mother of Metal. If the Lung (Metal) is

deficient, needle the Earth point (LU-9) on the Lung channel

with tonifying technique.

Fire

Wood

Earth

Metal

Water

LIV G.B.

123

8 4

(^3834)
4344
41
67
SP ST
1
2
3
9 5
36
4445
43
41
1
8
5
3
2
3 4
(^97)
8
HE S.I.
LU
L.I.
10
5 8
11
5
11
2 1
3
KID BL
1 3
2
107
66
65 40
60
2 1
3
6
10
3 5
79
8
P T.B.
LU-9
Earth point on
the LU channel
9
Fire
Wood
Earth
Metal
Water
LIV G.B.
1
2
3
8 4
(^3834)
43 44
41
67
SP ST
1
2
3
9 5
36
4445
43
41
1
8
5
3
2
3 4
(^97)
8
HE S.I.
LU L.I.
10
5 8
(^119)
5
11
2 1
3
KID BL
1 3
2
107
66
65 40
60
2 1
3
6
10
3 5
79
8
P T.B.
LU-5
Water point on
the LU channel
Ch08-F10028.qxd 2/23/08 4:41 PM Page 689