Folio Bound VIEWS - Chinese Medicine

according to its target area. Most distal points affect a certain area and this needs to be taken into
account especially when treating pain. For example, to return to the three points mentioned
above, LIV-1, LIV-2 and LIV-3, all stimulate the downward flow of Qi within the Liver channel,
but they affect different areas: LIV-1 affects the Lower Burner (particularly urinary passages),
LIV-2 affects the eyes and LIV-3 affects the top of the head or face. Thus, if we are using the
Liver channel to treat a Liver-related eye problem, LIV-2 would be the best point to use. If,
moreover, the patient's eye problem is caused by Liver-Fire, there is an additional reason for
choosing LIV-2 as it drains Liver-Fire. Thus, in this example, we are using LIV-2 for three
different reasons related to three different viewpoints:

1. because it stimulates the downward movement of Qi within the Liver channel


2. because it affects the eyes


3. because it drains Liver-Fire.

Finally, selecting a point according to the above criteria is still not enough. The next and final
step is to combine different acupuncture points from different channels in a harmonious,
effective, safe and powerful way. To return to the above example of a patient with an eye
problem from Liver-Fire, using LIV-2 only may not be enough and it may need to be combined
with other points. This may be necessary either to balance LIV-2 energetically or to treat another
symptom. For example, if the patient, besides having an eye problem from Liver-Fire, also
suffers from dry mouth and restless sleep from the same cause, we may combine LIV-2 with
L.I.-4 Hegu. This combination would be particularly desirable for several reasons:

1. from the point of view of energetic action, L.I.-4 calms the Mind


2. from the point of view of target area, L.I.-4 affects the mouth, thus relieving thirst
   and dry mouth


3. from the point of view of channel dynamics, L.I.-4 also draws Qi downwards


4. from the point of view of combination of points, L.I.-4 combines well with LIV-2
   for three reasons:

(a)they combine Top and Bottom

(b)they combine Yin and Yang

(c)they combine two heavenly stems (this will be explained later).

Thus, to summarize, there are basically four different factors in the selection of points:

1. the energetic action of the point (e.g. draining Liver-Fire)


2. the dynamics of the flow of Qi in the channel (e.g. drawing Qi downwards)


3. the area of the body affected by the point