THE SPECIAL POINTS

THE FIVE SHU POINTS

BY SUE MIR

THE FIVE SHU POINTS

These are five points of the 12 Primary Meridians located below the elbow and the knee They are imaged by the ancients as the flowing water, representing the volume of qi in the meridian
They are located in an order from below to above with increasing qi as it goes up (well to sea)

The points at which the qi springs up are called the well, the points where qi flows copiously are called spring, the points where qi flows like a stream are called stream, the point where qi glows through are called river, and the points where qi gathers are called sea.

JING WELL (Yin/Wood & Yang/Metal)

Qi is shallow and small

Mostly located at the tips of fingers or toes Indicated in fullness of the chest/under the heart Restores consciousness Mental disturbances Treats diseases of the Vicera/Zang (Yin) organs Change in polarity
Needled in Winter

YING SPRING (Yin/Fire & Yang/Water)

Qi is most powerful

Mostly located in web margins of hand/feet Febrile diseases & excess heat (internal heat) Changes in complexion Diseases that are in channels (i.e. exterior of body) Needled in Spring

SHU STREAM (Yin/Earth & Yang/Wood)

Qi gets deeper

Usually located at wrists and ankles Heavy sensation of body & painful joints Wei Qi gathers here Diseases that are in channels (i.e. exterior of body) When diseases get worse, better, then worse again
Needle in Summer

JING RIVER (Yin/Metal & Yang/Fire)

Qi gets bigger, wider and deeper

Mostly between wrist/elbow & ankle/knee Cough and asthma due to pathogenic cold and heat Changes in sound of voice
Needle in Late summer

HE SEA (Yin/Water & Yang/Earth)

Qi flows slower, inward, and deep

Mostly located on or around elbows or knees Usually used for in diarrhea d/t rebellious qi Diseases resulting from dietary irregularities Indicated in problems of digestion Diseases of the bowels (i.e. interior of the body)
Needle in Autumn

SPECIAL
ACUPUNCTURE POINTS

Yuan Source/Primary
Source qi flows and is detained

Where the yuan qi of organ resides on its channel Mostly near wrists & ankles On the Yin Meridians, is the same as the Shu Stream Point Can be palpated for diagnosis to ID excess or deficiency of the yuan qi in the organs channel Disease of the 5 viscera (LU, SP, KD, LV, HT) Closely related to the San Jiao & Yuan Qi
Repletion of yuan qi of the organ by regulating it San Jiao moves qi from its source, so closely related to it

Xi-Cleft (accumulation) points qi and blood in the channels converge & accumulate in these clefts or fissures
Primarily indicated for channel problems Treat either stubborn or acute ailments involving organs and channels
Acute or recurring pain on the yang channels Acute or recurring bleeding on the yin channels

Diagnostic; can reflect excess or deficiency of a meridian; sharp or intense pain indicates excess & dull or depressions indicate deficiency
Mostly for Acute dzs; exc or def.

Luo-Connecting the places where the connecting meridian splits from the main channel
Treatment of internally-externally related organs, treat the most diseased organ Treatment of connecting vessel symptoms Major Luo of the SP is on the trunk

Low He Sea
relate to the yang channels of hand & foot; located on legs (ST, GB, & UB channels)
Primarily indicated for diseases of the six bowels.(e.g. diarrhea, indigestion) 3 points for the 3 leg yang (same as their regular He-Sea points) & 3 points for the 3 hand yang Uniting-he points for SI and LI are located on the ST channel because these two bowels belong to the stomach Uniting points for the SJ located on UB channel because both these bowels are involved in the movement and transformation of water.

Low He Sea

Contd..

There are 3 uniting-he points for the three leg yang, and 3 uniting-he points for the three hand yang.
For disorders of the six fu organs, i.e. gastric pain and sour regurgitation are treated by ST36
dysentery or appendicitis is treated by ST37 biliary pain and vomiting are treated by GB34

8 Hui Meeting/Influential Points Treat general diseases & combined to address specific needs
Internal Heat- select Meeting point (S.133) LV-13: Viscera (Zang) RN-12: Bowels (Fu) RN-17: Qi UB-17: Blood GB-34: Sinews/Tendons UB-11: Bones GB-39: Marrow LU-9: Vessels

 Each confluences is linked with 1 of the 8 extra-ordinary vessels via its home channel Treat diseases of the extraordinary channels

8 confluent Points

L7-Ren K6-YinQiao(Motility/Heel) P4-Chong

C6-YinWei(Linking)

{Throat, Chest, Lu, Diaphragm, Chronic Asthma}

{Chest, HT, ST}

M3-Du B62-YangQiao(Motility/Heel)
G41-Dai J5-YangWei(Linking)
Diaphragm}

{Inner Canthus, Ear, Neck, Shoulder, Back}

{Outer Canthus, Retroauricular, Cheek, Shoulder,

Command Points Treating ailments of specific anatomical areas

Abdomen: ST-36 Lumbar: UB-40 Head/Neck: LU-7 Face: LI-4 Chest: PC-6 Fainting: DU-26

Back-Shu (Associated-Shu) points all located on UB channel

1.5 cun lateral to the spine The qi of each organ is said to pass through 1 of these points & good for treating yin, or tender spot for organ effected.
Treating the 5 viscera: yin organs

When qi or organ is hindered it collects at the Shu point manifesting in tenderness

Back-Shu
The qi of the organs pass through the point named after them. Are used for diagnoses and treatment of the organs. Transport qi to the inner organs. Affect the sense organ to which they relate. They are primarily used to treat diseases of the five viscera (yin) organs. Are particularly important for the treatment of chronic diseases. Also good for acute conditions They are also appropriate for the treatment of acute disorders.
i.e., Treatment of cough or dyspnea may include UB13 Treatment of eye problems may include UB18.

Front Mu (Alarm-Mu) points Where the organs qi gathers

Located on the chest an abdomen where the channel qi collects. Located directly above or anterior to the organ they are related to Palpate for tenderness, lumps or growths on these points near the involved organ Any abnormal findings indicate the organ related may be suffering from pathology

Front Mu
Regulate internal organs. Often used in acute diseases; however, they can also be used in chronic conditions too. These points are often used to treat disorders of the six bowels (Yang). i.e.: Treatment of urinary disorders almost always include Ren3 Treatment of constipation almost always include ST25.

Coalescing Points
Points of the Extra Meridians: DU: UB 12, Ren 1 Ren: ST 1, DU 28 Chong: Ren 1, KD 11-21 Dai: GB26, 27, 28 Yang Qiao: UB 62,61,59, GB 29, SI 10, LI 15,16, ST 4, 3, 1, UB 1, GB 20

Coalescing Points Contd..

Yin Qiao: KD 6, 8, UB 1 Yang Wei: UB 63, GB 35, SI 10, SJ 15, GB 21, 13-20, DU 16, 15, ST 8 Yin Wei: KD 9, SP 13, 15, 16, LV 14, Ren 22, 23