8 Point Categories and Point SelectionAddendum:The terms tonification/sedation points are some-
what controversial, since the properties of a point can often be
overshadowed by its other features. For example, according to
the Five Phase theory, P-9and HE-9are considered tonification
points, since they correspond to the phase of the mother. How-
ever, in clinical practice they are much more frequently used as
jing-well points for acute situations – thus they are considered
from the point of view of the Qi flow in the channels, especially
in order to drain Heat.Application of the Five Phase points for the
elimination of external pathogenic factors
A connection exists between the Five Phases and pathogenic
factors (Maciocia 1994; according to Ross 1998, however, these
points should only be used for internal disorders):
● Wood corresponds to Wind
● Fire corresponds to Heat
● Earth corresponds to Dampness
● Metal corresponds to Dryness. According to Maciocia this
correlation presents an exception: the Metal point should not
be needled to treat Dryness; a moistening treatment is here
the preferred choice.
● Water corresponds to Cold.
In accordance with these interrelations, Five Phase points can be
applied to eliminate pathogenic factors.
Example:Acute sore throat with fever, redness and swelling of
the throat due to Wind-Heat
Affected phases:Wood (Wind), Fire (Heat)
Affected Organ/channel:Lungs
Therapy:Needling of the Wood point on the LU channel (LU-11)
and the Fire point on the LU channel (LU-10).Benpoints
LU-11
WoodLU-9
EarthLU-10
FireLU-5
WaterLU-8
MetalThe application of the kecycle (controlling cycle)allows a
more differentiated approach in the therapy and elimination of
pathogenic factors:
● On the Yin channel, needle the point corresponding to the
pathogenic factor with reducing technique (for example, for
Heat needle the Fire point)
● In addition, needle the point which corresponds to the con-
trolling phase (according to the kecycle/controlling cycle
➞8.2.5) of the pathogenic factor on the paired Yang channel
with tonifying technique.Benpoints (root points, element points) represent the same
phase as its pertaining channel. Example:The Spleen corre-
sponds to Earth; thus the Earth point on the Spleen channel is its
benpoint.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 pointCh08-F10028.qxd 2/23/08 4:41 PM Page 690