Atlas of Acupuncture

5 The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (qi jing ba mai) with Points

Meeting points of other channels with the

du mai

Clinical importance (➞1.7.2, 1.7.3)

● Sea of the Yang Qi, supplies Yang Qi in order to warm the

Organs and channels

● Supports and regulates all Yang channels, especially those of

the upper back and head

● Influences and strengthens the functions of the Brain, Mar-

row and sensory organs

● Strengthens the body constitutionally and supports the

immune system (circulation of the Defensive Qi (wei qi))

● Stores the Essence Qi (jing qi) overflowing from the Yang

channels

● Absorbs excess from the Yang channels, especially excess

Heat and internal Wind

Notes about the du mai

Both the du maiand ren maihave a unique position among the

eight extraordinary vessels. They are the only two extraordinary

vessels with their own specific points – all the other extraordi-

nary vessels can only be accessed through points on the primary

channels. For this reason the ren maiand the du mai, together

with the primary channels, are often categorised as 14 channels.

However, from the point of view of channel energetics this is not

correct, since the extraordinary vessels occupy a special posi-

tion, both evolutionarily and functionally (➞1.7).

The pathway of the du mai, like that of the ren mai, is limited to

the torso and the head. While it does not course along the

extremities and does not have any points on the limbs (neither

general points nor specific points such as the five shu-transporting

points, yuan-source points, etc.) it does have a pertaining opening

point (or master point) (➞8.1.8).

The du maiis also referred to as the Sea of Yang and governs the

Yang in the whole body. Located along its pathway are the pos-

terior aspects of the energy centres (or chakras according to Yogi

tradition) while their anterior aspects are located along the path-

way of the ren mai. In Daoist tradition the du maiplays an

important role in the cultivation of Qi. This concerns the devel-

opment of a ‘spirit child’, which can be influenced by opening

and activating energy centres located along the spine.

Furthermore, the du maicontains many meeting points with

other channels. This clearly denotes the outstanding importance

of the du mai.

Specific points according to their function

● Yuan-source point(➞8.1.1):–

● Luo-Connecting point(➞8.1.2.): Du-1(changqiang)

● Xi-cleft point (➞8.1.3): –

● Back-shupoint (➞8.1.4): –

● Front-mupoint (➞8.1.5): –

● Five shu-transporting points (➞8.1.6): –

● Hui-meeting point (➞8.1.7): –

● Pertaining opening point (➞8.1.8): S.I.-3(houxi)

● Pertaining coupled point (➞8.1.8): BL-62(shenmai)

● Lower he-Sea point (➞8.1.9): –

● Jiaohui-meeting points (➞8.1.10):

Ren-1

Ren-1(huiyin): In the centre of the perineum

Spinous process T2

Spinous process T3 BL-12

BL-12(fengmen): 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline, on

the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd

thoracic vertebra (T2)

ST-1

(below the

pupil)

Orbital

margin

ST-1(chengqi): With the eyes looking straight ahead, directly

below the centre of the pupil, between the eyeball and the

infraorbital ridge

BL-1

BL-1(jingming): 0.1 cun superior and medial to the inner

canthus of the eye, in a depression

BL-23

BL-22

Level of theiliac crests BL-24

Spinous process L1

Spinous process L2

Spinous process L3

Spinous process L4

BL-23(shenshu): 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline, on the

level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd

lumbar vertebra (L2)

Connections with other channels/Organs

● Ren mai, chong mai, Bladder and Kidney primary channels

● Uterus, Kidneys, Brain

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