Point Indication

Extraordinary Vessels (TCM) Point Selection Review 1

Extraordinary Vessels

 The Conception vessel (Ren Mai) Primarily treats reproductive and

gynecological problems, abdominal and chest symptoms as well as general yin conditions.

The Governing Vessel (Du Mai) Primarily treats pain in the spine, back and neck, and neurological problems as well as general yang conditions.

 The Girdling Vessel (Dai Mai) encircles

the body at the waist. It regulates the ascending and descending of qi and treats pain in the lower abdomen and back and leukorrhea.

The Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

regulates blood in the uterus and is used to treat gynecological and digestive problems as well as rebellious qi.

Girdle Vessel Dai Mai

Penetrating Vessel Chong Mai

 The Yin and Yang Motility Vessels (Qiao

Mai) regulate the opening and closing of the eyes and muscle balance in the lower body.

They treat musculoskeletal and

neurological problems as well as sleep disturbances.

For example, the Yin Qiao treats medial

leg spasm, somnolence and night seizures, and the Yang Qiao treats lateral leg spasm, insomnia and day seizures.

Yang Motility Vessel Yang Qiao Mai

Yin Motility Vessel Yin Qiao Mai

 The Yin and Yang Linking Vessels (Wei

Mai) connect all the Yin and Yang channels respectively.

The Yang Wei Mai treats problems

similar to the Gallbladder Meridian and the Yin Wei Mai treats problems similar to the Pericardium Meridian.

Yang Linking Vessel Yang Wei Mai

Yin Linking Vessel Yin Wei Mai

 Each vessel has a confluent point, which

we have noted earlier. In some cases the confluent point is a point of intersection of the vessel with a regular channel, in some cases it is not.

The confluent points are often paired,

and the pairs have specific areas of influence

 Conception vessel (LU-7) is paired with

the Yin Motility Vessel (KID-6)

Treats: Chest, diaphragm and throat Penetrating Vessel (SP-4) is paired with
the Yin Linking Vessel (P-6)

Treats: Stomach, heart and chest

 Governing Vessel (SI-3) is paired with

the Yang Motility Vessel (BL-62)

Treats: Inner canthus, neck, ear,

shoulder, upper back

Girdling Vessel (GB-41) is paired with

the Yang Linking Vessel (SJ-5)

Treats: Outer canthus, cheek, neck, back

of ears and shoulder

Sample Point Selection for TCM Patterns

 This is a very simple methodology for

constructing point combinations. It uses primarily very commonly-used points; other points with similar or more specialized functions may be substituted as you like.

Some points are marked with an asterisk

(*); this means the point should be treated by moxibustion.

Substance Patterns

Qi

(Deficiency) ST36, SP6, REN6

(Stagnation) LR3, LR14, LI4

(Sinking Qi) DU20, ST36, REN6

Blood
(Deficiency) BL17*, SP6, BL20 (Stasis) LR3, SP10, LI4 (Heat) SP10, BL40

 Fluids: see Kidney Yin Deficiency Jing: see Kidney Jing Deficiency Shen: see Heart patterns

Pathogen Patterns

Wind
(Exterior) LI4, LU7, GB20, BL12 (Interior) GB16, GB20, DU20, GB31

Cold
(Exterior) LI4, LU7, BL12 (Interior) REN4*, REN12*, ST36*

Heat
(Exterior) LI4, LI11, DU14 (Interior) LI11, DU14 (XS); K3, K6 (Def)

Damp

SP9, BL20, REN9; add LI11 if Damp

Heat

Summerheat

LI11, DU14; add SP9 if Damp

Phlegm
SP9, ST40; add LI11 if Heat (Lung) LU5 (Heart) P5

Zang Fu Patterns

Lung
(Exterior pattern) LI4, LU7; LI11, TB5 if
Heat

(Phlegm) LU5, ST40; add LU10 if Heat (Qi def) LU9, SP3, BL13 (Yin def) LU5, LU9, K3

Heart / SI
(Qi def) H7, BL15, ST36 (Blood def) H7, BL15, SP6, BL17* (Yang def) K3, H5, SI4 (Yin def) K3 (or K6), H6, BL15 (Fire) H8, K6, REN14 ; (->SI add ST39,
REN4)

(Blood Stasis) SP4, P6, P4, REN17 (Phlegm) P5, ST40

Spleen / Stomach
(Qi def) SP3, SP6, ST36, BL20 (Yang def) as above, add K7, BL23* (Rebellious Qi) P6, ST36, REN12 (ST Heat) ST44, ST34, REN12

Liver / GB
(Qi stag) LR3, LR14, GB34 (Blood def) LR3, BL17*, SP6 (Fire) LR2, GB43, SJ6 (Yang rising) LR3, K3, DU20 (GB Damp Heat) GB24, GB34, GB43

Kidney / BL
(Yang def) K3, BL23, DU4* (Yin def) K3, K6, BL23 (Qi def) K3, BL23, ST36 (Jing def) K3, DU4, REN4 (BL Damp Heat) REN3, SP9, BL28

Large Intestine
(Damp Heat) ST25, ST37, LI11, SP9 (Cold) ST25*, BL25*, REN12*, ST37 (Dry) TB6, SP6, ST25, KI6

Review for Final

THE FIVE SHU POINTS

Jing-well Points
Where the Qi of the Channel emerges Restores consciousness Clears Heat & Stagnation, especially
from the opposite end of the channel

Calms the Spirit (Shen) Treats fullness below the Heart

Examples
Bleed all twelve jing-well points in for
excess-type (Heat) collapse

LU-11 for acute sore throat and mumps. HE-9 for Heart or chest pain Several Jing-Well point indicated for
mania

Ying-spring Points
Where the Qi of the Channel glides Clears heat from the channel/organ (fire
& water point)

Effect on the opposite end of the channel

(less than Jing-well)

Can substitute for Jing-well Can combine w/Shu-stream to treat

Zang

Examples
LU-10 clears heat from the throat and/or
Lung

KID-2 clears deficiency heat from the

Kidneys

LIV-2 clears Liver fire GB-43 clears heat from the GB channel. ST-44 clears fire from the Stomach
channel

 Where Qi of the Channel begins to pour Yin Channels: same as Yuan-source pts Heaviness &/or pain of the joints Combine w/ Ying-spring to treat the Yin
organs

Shu-stream Points

Yang Shu-stream: channel stagnation Diseases which come and go - chronic

Examples
LU-9, SP-3, HE-7, KID-3, LIV-3 all tonify
their associated zang (Shu-stream + Yuan-source)

GB-41 disperses qi stagnation

throughout the shaoyang channel

SI-3 for all disorders of the neck

Jing-river Points
Qi of the Channel begins to flow heavily Cough, Fever & Chills Change in voice Disorders of the muscles, tendons,
bones, joints

Examples
LU-8: cough, asthma, wheezing HE-4: sudden loss of voice BL-60: stiff neck, lumbar pain LIV-4: contracted sinews, lumbar pain

He-sea Points
Where the Qi of the Channel unites with
the sea -- communicates with organs leakage of fluids

Rebellious Qi, diarrhea, abnormal Skin diseases Treats the Fu organs

Examples
ST-36: every kind of Stomach or Spleen
disease

SP-9: lack of appetite, diarrhea L.I.-11: skin diseases, itching of the skin LIV-8: itching of the genitals

Mother-Child Points
AKA, Tonification (Supplementation)
and

Dispersion (Sedation) (Draining) Points Based on Five-Phase (Five-Element)

theory, specifically Classic of Difficulties 69.

Most often applied to Yin channels

Classic of Difficulties 69
In deficiency, tonify the Mother In excess, drain the Child Tonify first and then drain

 Mother Point = Point representing phase/

element preceding affected channel on Sheng (Generating cycle)

Example: Lung Deficiency: Tonify LU9

(Earth point on Metal Channel)

Child Point = Point representing phase/

element following affected channel on Sheng (Generating cycle)

Example: Lung Excess: Drain LU5

(Water point on Metal Channel)

 Each of the twelve primary channels has

a yuan-source point where it is said the original qi surfaces and lingers.

YUAN-SOURCE POINTS

On yin channels, the yuan-source points

are the same as the shu-stream points.

When the five zang are diseased, select

the yuan-source points, they are the primary point on the yin channels for this purpose.

 On the yang channels their importance

and indications they are quite different from the yuan-source points of the yin channels.

Their principal actions are to dispel

various kinds of excess pathogenic factors and to treat disorders along the pathway of their respective channels.

 The actions of the luo-connecting points: i. treating disorders of their interiorlyexteriorly related channel or zang-fu,

LUO CONNECTING POINTS

ii. treating disorders in regions reached

by the luo-connecting channel

iii. treating psycho-emotional disorders.

THE METHOD OF COMBINING THE YUAN-SOURCE AND LUOCONNECTING POINTS

Known as the host and guest

combination

The yuan-source point of the first or primarily affected channel is combined with the luo-connecting point of its interiorly-exteriorly coupled channel.

Group Luo Points

Used in cases where all 3 yin or yang
channels of the arm or leg are affected.

SJ 8 - 3 arm Yang (LI, SJ, SI) PC 5 - 3 arm Yin (LU, PC, HE) GB 39 - 3 leg Yang (ST, GB, BL) SP 6 - 3 leg Yin (SP, LIV, KD)

XI-CLEFT POINTS
Xi-cleft points in general are indicated in
the treatment of acute conditions and pain.

Xi-cleft points of the yin channels have

an additional action of treating disorders of blood.

BACK-SHU POINTS
the shu points are situated in the yang
region, they may be used to treat yin diseases- most practitioners use the back-shu points of the zang more frequently, while the front-mu points may be favored for diseases of the fu.

Back-shu points do not treat channel

disorders; may be indicated in some disorders of the sense organs.

FRONT-MU POINTS
Front-mu points have a wide application,
including excess, deficiency, hot and cold patterns; they can be used diagnostically (as can the back-shu points).

The front-mu points their respective zangfu

but not their respective channel.

The corresponding back-shu and front-mu

points are also frequently combined in treatment.

HUI-MEETING POINTS
LIV-13: hui-meeting point of the zang REN-12: hui-meeting point of the fu REN-17: hui-meeting point of the qi. BL-17: hui-meeting point of blood.

 GB-34: hui-meeting point of the sinews. LU-9: hui-meeting point of the pulse and
vessels.

BL-11: hui-meeting point of bone. GB-39: hui-meeting point of marrow.

 Used to treat their respective fu organs. Large Intestine ST 37 Stomach ST 36 Sanjiao BL 39 Gall Bladder GB 34 Small Intestine ST 39 Urinary Bladder BL 40

LOWER HE SEA POINTS

FOUR AND SIX COMMAND POINTS

ST-36 - abdomen. BL-40 - lumbar region and back. LU-7 - head and nape. L.I.-4 - face and mouth. P-6 - chest and lateral costal region DU-26 - resuscitation.

FOUR GATES
Points: L.I.-4, LIV-3 Common combination usually indicated
for stagnation of Qi and/or Blood, with associated symptoms of pain and emotional stress.

Hand Taiyin Lung Channel

ZHONGFU LU-1***
Front-Mu point of the Lung ACTIONS: Disseminates and descends
Lung qi, stops cough, transforms phlegm, clears heat, regulates the water passages, descends Stomach qi

INDICATIONS: Cough, turbid phlegm,

wheezing, fullness/ pain of the chest, heat in the chest, difficult ingestion

CHIZE LU-5****
He-Sea and Water point Dispersion (child) point ACTIONS Clears heat from the Lung, descends
rebellious qi

Regulates the water passages Activates the channel, alleviates pain

 INDICATIONS Cough &/or wheezing d/t heat or phlegmdamp, fullness of the chest, coughing blood, nosebleed, frequent urination, Bi pain of the elbow, arm, back or knee

Also used to strengthen Lung & Kidney

relationship, e.g. Kidney not grasping qi

KONGZUI LU-6***
Xi-Cleft point ACTIONS: Disseminates and descends
Lung qi, clears heat and moistens the Lung, stops bleeding, moderates acute conditions

INDICATIONS: Cough (acute &/or with

blood), wheezing, chest pain, throat swelling and pain, severe pain of elbow and upper arm, headache, hemorrhoids.

LIEQUE LU-7*****
Luo-Connecting point Confluent point of the Conception vessel Command point

 ACTIONS Releases the exterior and expels wind Promotes the Lung descending function Pacifies wind and phlegm Benefits the head and nape Opens and regulates the Conception
vessel

Regulates the water passages Activates the channel and alleviates pain

 INDICATIONS Exterior Wind invasion: Chills and fever,

nasal congestion, throat pain, cough, sweating, facial paralysis.

Headache and stiffness of the neck and

nape

Luo vessel problems: Weakness or pain

of the wrist and hand, pain of the thumb, shoulder pain.

 Conception vessel* or Water passage

problems: Post-partum, retention of lochia, bloody/hot/painful urination, edema.

* Conception vessel - frequently

combined with KID-6

TAIYUAN LU-9****
Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source and Earth
point

Hui-Meeting point of the Vessels ACTIONS: Tonifies the Lung, transforms

phlegm, descends Lung Qi, regulates the vessels, activates the channel, alleviates pain

 INDICATIONS Qi Deficiency: Cough (esp weak or with

watery phlegm), wheezing, shortness of breath, much yawning

Yin deficiency: Heat in the palms, dry

throat, coughing blood

Irregular or faint pulse Pain of the wrist, arm, shoulder, chest

and back

YUJI LU-10***
Ying-Spring and Fire point ACTIONS: Clears Lung heat, benefits
the throat, descends rebellious qi

INDICATIONS: Cough (heat or w/blood),

sore throat, loss of voice, fever, heat in the palm, vomiting, agitation.

Hand Yangming Large Intestine Channel

HEGU L.I.-4*****
Yuan-Source point, Command point of
the face, Four Gates point

ACTIONS: Regulates the defensive qi

and adjusts sweating, expels wind and releases the exterior, regulates the face, eyes, nose, mouth and ears, activates the channel and alleviates pain, induces labor, restores the yang

 INDICATIONS:

Exterior wind-cold (or wind-heat) pattern, copious sweating, absence of sweating.

Face / senses: Eye pain, nosebleed,

nasal congestion, toothache in the lower jaw, mouth ulcers, swelling of the face, facial paralysis, deafness, tinnitus, sore throat, headache.

Amenorrhea, delayed labor,

hypertension, Bi and Wei, hemiplegia.

QUCHl L.I.-11*****
He-Sea and Earth point Sun Si-miao Ghost point ACTIONS: Clears heat, cools the blood,
eliminates wind, drains damp and alleviates itching, regulates qi and blood, activates the channel and alleviates pain

 Any Excess Heat pattern Fever, thirst, sore throat, toothache,

redness and pain of the eyes, agitation, mania, hypertension, dizziness.

Various skin disorders (esp d/t Heat),

itching of the skin.

Intestinal complaints. Bi & Wei patterns.

JIANYU L.I.-15****
Meeting point of the L.I. channel with the
Yang Motility vessel

ACTIONS: Dispels wind-damp, alleviates

pain, benefits the shoulder joint, eliminates wind, regulates qi and blood, dissipates phlegm nodules

INDICATIONS: Pain in shoulder & arms,

motor impairment of upper limbs, WindHeat skin rashes, goiter, hypertension.

 Jing-River and Fire point ACTIONS: Clears heat and alleviates

pain, clears yangming fire, calms the spirit, benefits the wrist joint

YANGXI L.I.-5***

INDICATIONS: Headache, rhinitis,

nosebleed, redness pain and swelling of the eye, toothache, sore throat, fright, mania-depression, pain of the wrist.

PIANLI L.I.-6***
Luo-Connecting point ACTIONS: Expels wind and clears heat,
opens and regulates the water passages

INDICATIONS: Redness of the eye,

edema (esp facial edema), difficult urination, tinnitus, deafness, nosebleed, pain of hand and arm, sore throat, manic depression.

 Arm ST-36 ACTIONS: Regulates qi and blood,

SHOUSANLI L.I.10***

activates the channel and alleviates pain, harmonizes the intestines and Stomach

INDICATIONS: Pain / immobility of the

arm and shoulder, windstroke, hemiplegia, deviation of the mouth, abdominal pain, diarrhea, toothache, swelling of the cheek.

YlNGXIANG L.I.-20***
ACTIONS: Opens the nasal passages,
expels wind and clears heat

INDICATIONS: Nasal congestion and

discharge, nasal obstruction, nosebleed, deviation of the mouth, swelling and itching of the face, round worms in the bile duct.

Main local point for nose problems

Foot Yangming Stomach Channel

 He-Sea and Earth point, Command point

of the abdomen, Sea of Water and Grain Point

ZUSANLI ST-36*****

ACTIONS: Harmonizes the Stomach,

fortifies the Spleen and resolves dampness, supports the correct qi and fosters original qi, tonifies qi and nourishes blood and yin, clears fire and calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain, revives the yang and restores consciousness

 Stomach patterns Spleen patterns Qi & Blood Deficiency ST channel: Breast, leg, hemiplegia, bi
pain.

Mania, depression, fright Hypertension

FENGLONG ST40***** Luo-Connecting point

ACTIONS: Transforms phlegm and
dampness (Lung, Heart, etc), stops cough, calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain

INDICATIONS: Phlegm patterns: any

Phlegm pattern. Most important point for Phlegm

ST channel problems: numbness, atrophy or

pain of the lower limbs

 Lower He-Sea point, Sea of Blood Point ACTIONS: Regulates the intestines and
transforms stagnation, clears damp heat, alleviates diarrhea and dysentery, regulates the Spleen and Stomach, activates the channel and alleviates pain

SHANGJUXU ST37****

INDICATIONS: Intestinal disorders, Qi

deficiency, Leg problems

 Ying-Spring and Water point ACTIONS: Clears heat from the

NEITlNG ST-44****
Stomach channel, alleviates pain, harmonizes the intestines, clears dampheat, calms the spirit

INDICATIONS: ST Fire: (channel)

Toothache, pain or paralysis of face, sore throat, nosebleed, foot swelling and pain, hot-type skin problems.

(Fu) Epigastric pain, acid reflux, etc

 Front-Mu point of the Large Intestine ACTIONS: Regulates intestines, Spleen

and Stomach, resolves dampness/dampheat, regulates qi & blood and eliminates stagnation

TIANSHU ST-25****

INDICATIONS: LI/SP/ST disorders Qi & Blood stagnation, esp lower jiao Damp.

LIANGMEN ST-21***
ACTIONS: Regulates qi and alleviates
pain, harmonizes the middle jiao and transforms stagnation, raises the qi and stops diarrhea

INDICATIONS: Epigastric pain, vomiting,

poor appetite, ab distention, diarrhea.

Mainly for acute excess stomach

problems (such as LR -> ST).

JA: Stomach (L) / duodenal (R) ulcer

reflex

SHUIDAO ST-28***
ACTIONS: Regulates the lower jiao and
dispels stagnation, benefits the Bladder and the uterus

INDICATIONS: Damp stagnation & Blood

stasis: Lower abdominal distension, retention of urine, edema, hernia, prostatitis, dysmenorrhea, uterine masses.

GUILAI ST-29***
ACTIONS: Warms the lower jiao, regulates
menstruation and benefits the genital region

INDICATIONS: Retention of Cold in the

uterus: Ab pain, ab masses hernia, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, leukorrhea, prolapse of the uterus, infertility.

Also for GYN disorders d/t Kidney yang def

LIANGQIU ST-34***
Xi-Cleft point of the Stomach channel ACTIONS: Activates the channel,
harmonizes the Stomach, alleviates pain, moderates acute conditions

INDICATIONS: Epigastric pain, acid

reflux, mastitis, swelling and pain of the knee, motor impairment of the lower limbs.

TIAOKOU ST-38***
ACTIONS: Expels wind-damp and
alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder

INDICATIONS: Frozen shoulder, pain or

weakness of the lower limb.

Empirical for frozen shoulder

 Lower He-Sea point of the Small

Intestine

XIAJUXU ST-39***

Point of the Sea of Blood ACTIONS: Moves Small Intestine qi,

regulates the intestines, clears dampheat, activates the channel and alleviates pain

INDICATIONS: Low ab pain, backache

referring to the testes, mastitis, diarrhea, dysentery, numbness and paralysis of the lower limbs.

XIANGU ST-43***
Shu-Stream and Wood point ACTIONS: Regulates the Spleen, dispels
edema, regulates and harmonizes the Stomach and intestines

INDICATIONS: Edema (body & face), ab

pain, borborygmus, swelling and pain of the dorsum of the foot.

Foot Taiyin Spleen Channel

SANYINJIAO SP6***** Meeting point of the Spleen, Liver and

Kidney channels

ACTIONS: Tonifies the Spleen and

Stomach, Resolves dampness, harmonizes the Liver and tonifies the Kidneys, Regulates menstruation and induces labour, harmonizes the lower jiao, Regulates urination and benefits the genitals, Calms the spirit, Invigorates blood, Activates the channel and alleviates pain

 INDICATIONS: Spleen and Stomach deficiency OB / GYN Andrology Urinary Palpitations, insomnia, dizziness,
blurred vision, tinnitus, hypertension.

Damp: Skin diseases, joint pain,

swelling, etc

YINLlNGQUAN SP9***** He-Sea and Water point

ACTIONS: Regulates the Spleen and
INDICATIONS: Dampness: edema,
swelling of the lower limbs, retention of urine, difficult urination, enuresis, qi painful urinary dysfunction, abdominal distention, diarrhea. resolves dampness, opens and moves the water passages, benefits the lower jiao

DIJI SP-8****
Xi-Cleft point of the Spleen channel ACTIONS: Regulates menstruation and
invigorates blood, harmonizes the Spleen and resolves dampness, moderates acute conditions

INDICATIONS: Dysmenorrhea, irregular

menstruation, abdominal masses in women, abdominal pain and distension, difficult urination, edema.

XUEHAI SP-10****
ACTIONS: Invigorates the blood and
dispels stasis, cools blood, harmonizes menstruation, benefits the skin

INDICATIONS: Blood disorders (esp

stasis/heat): Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine bleeding, bloody urine.

Skin: Urticaria, eczema, herpes zoster,

redness, pain and itching.

GONGSUN SP-4**** Luo-Connecting point, Confluent point of

the Penetrating vessel

ACTIONS: Fortifies the Spleen,

harmonizes the middle jiao, regulates qi, resolves dampness, calms the spirit, benefits the Heart and chest, regulates Penetrating vessel

INDICATIONS:

Epigastric pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, maniadepression, insomnia and restlessness, Heart pain, irregular menstruation, GYN

TAIBAI SP-3***
Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source and Earth ACTIONS: Tonifies the Spleen and
resolves dampness and damp-heat, harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach, regulates qi

INDICATIONS: SP-ST Deficiency:

abdominal distension, constipation, diarrhea, borborygmus, sluggishness, joint pains.

DAHENG SP-15***
ACTIONS: Moves qi and regulates the
intestines

INDICATIONS: Constipation, abdominal

pain and distension, diarrhea, dysentery.