Atlas of Acupuncture

8 Point Categories and Point Selection

8.1.6 The Five Shu-Transporting

Points

The five shu-transporting points are located between the fingers

and the elbow on the upper extremity, between the toes and

the knee on the lower extremity. The classification and appli-

cation of these points is based on two theories: on the one hand

they are applied according to the Qi flow in the channel from

distal to proximal, on the other hand they are used according to

the Five Phases (➞8.2.5).

While the location of the five shu-transporting points is identical

to the Five Phase points, their dynamics and range of application

based on the Qi flow in the channels differs from or is even con-

trary to their actions as Five Phase points. The theoretical foun-

dations of the Qi flow in the channels as applied in the instance

of the shu-transporting point are based on a rather earlier circu-

latory concept (➞1.1.1).

The therapeutic application of the Five Phase points will be

explained in more detail in ➞8.2.5, while the clinical applica-

tion according to channel flow is described below.

Theoretical background of the Qi circulation

in the channels

According to the more original centripetal model (➞1.1.1), the

Qi flows from the peripheral parts of the body to the elbows and

knees, similar to a river coursing from its spring to its estuary

and finally into the sea:

● The Qi flow begins at the anastomosis at the jing-well point.

Here the water surfaces, it is dynamic and unstable (change of

polarity from Yin to Yang)

● The water course then changes to a spring (ying) and a stream

(shu) – both are at this point still quite dynamic features, the

water flowing rapidly and superficially.

● The water then becomes increasingly deeper and slower, tak-

ing on the characteristics of a river (jing).

● Eventually it flows as a big river into the sea (he).

This image of a river system is often used to explain disorders

caused by pathogenic factors (xie qi). Due to the superficial

position of these points on the extremities, pathogens can here

easily penetrate the body. By the same token, they can be

removed again with relatively little effort. Barbara Kirschbaum

(course material 1999) provides a useful visual image: she sug-

gests imagining a ship carrying a cargo of pathogens that begins

its journey at the tips of the extremities. The further a point is

located peripherally in the body, the easier it is for the ship to get

rid of its dangerous cargo (or to expel the pathogen according to

the dynamics of the Qi flow). However, once the ship has

reached the he-sea point, the ship and its cargo will disappear in

the big, wide sea, having the potential to injure the internal

zangfu-Organ. Thus it is the therapeutic goal to eliminate

pathogens from the body as soon as possible.

Yin Yang

he-sea

jing-river

shu-stream

ying-

spring

jing-well

Water Earth

Metal Fire

Wood Metal

Fire

Water

Earth Wood

Ni 1

Metal

Wood

Earth Wood

Fire

Metal

Fire

Water he-sea Earth

Element Element

jing-well

ying-

spring Water

jing-

river

shu-

stream

Element Element

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