Point Theory

Acupuncture Points Chart

SP LV KD HT PC LU SJ LI SI UB ST GB
Jing-Well 1 1 1 9 9 11 1 1 1 67 45 44
Ying-Spring 2 2 2 8 8 10 2 2 2 66 44 43
Shu-Stream 3 3 3 7 7 9 3 3 3 65 43 41
Jing-River 5 4 7 4 5 8 6 5 5 60 41 38
He-sea 9 8 10 3 3 5 10 11 8 40 36 34
Luo-Connect 4 5 4 5 6 7 5 6 7 58 40 37
Xi-Cleft 8 6 5 6 4 6 7 7 6 63 34 36
Yuan-Source 3 3 3 7 7 9 4 4 4 64 42 40

Five Transporting Points

The five transporting (shu) points are referred to as follows: Jing (Well) , Ying (Spring) , Shu
(Stream) , Jing (River) and He (Sea). These acupuncture points belong to the "twelve regular"
meridians and are located below the elbows or knees. The Five Transporting (Shu) points start at
the tip of the four limbs and continue all the way to the elbows or knees.

Jing (Well) Points

Meridians start at Jing-Well points , They are located on the fingers and toes of the four
extremities. The indications for the use of these points are fullness in the chest and mental
disorders related to the Yin organs.

Ying (Sping) Points

These points are located distal to the metacarpophalangeal joints or metatarsophalangeal joints
and are used for febrile diseases. In the Yin meridians, the Ying (Spring) point belongs to the
Fire Element. This means that it may be very useful in the treatment of releasing heat from its
related meridian or organ system.

Shu (Stream) Points

These points are located proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints or metatarsophalangeal
joints and are used for disorders related to heaviness in the body or painful joint conditions. The
Shu (Stream) point in Yin organs is also what we refer to as the Yuan (Source) point. This means
that the stimulation of this point is able to build strength and energy in its related meridian or
organ system.

Jing (River) Points

These points are located around the joints of the wrists or ankles and are used for cough and
asthma due to pathogenic cold and heat. This is also a place where Qi flows through.

He (Sea) Points
The He-Sea point metaphorically describes the merge of rivers joining and emptying into the sea.
They are located around the joints of the elbows or knees. These points are indicated for perverse
Qi flow such as diarrhea.

Lower He (Sea) Points

There are six Lower He (sea) points in the body which are related to the Yang or Fu organ
systems. There is a Lower He (Sea) point for the Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Gall
Bladder, San Jiao, and Bladder. When one of these organ systems is problematic, the
corresponding Lower He(Sea) point may be used for its treatment.

Luo (Connecting) Points

This is the point where a meridian splits off and connects with its interiorly-exteriorly related
meridian or organ system. Therefore, luo-connecting points can treat problems in its own
meridian as well as those of its interiorly-exteriorly related meridian.

Yuan (Source) Points

Yuan (Source) points are the points where the "Source" Qi may be accessed. These points are
indicated for diseases related to the five Yin organs and are responsible for the regulation of
Source Qi in general (which intimately relates them to the San Jiao meridian system).

Accumulation (Xi-Cleft) Points

The Meridian-Qi accumulates most deeply in this area and for this reason Xi (Cleft) points are
very effective in the treatment of diseases within their own meridian system where pain or
bleeding is involved.

Confluent Points of the Extraordinary Vessels

The confluent points are points that are located on the Twelve Primary Meridians through which
the Eight Extra Meridians can be accessed.

Chong SP4 Ren LU7 Du SI3 Dai GB41

Yin Wei PC6 Yin Qiao KD6 Yang Qiao UB62 Yang Wei SJ5

Xi (Cleft) Points of the Extraordinary Vessels

The Xi (Cleft) points are points that correspond to the Eight Extra Meridians are located on the
Twelve Primary Meridians and have the same function as standard Xi (Cleft) points.

Yin Wei KD9 Yin Qiao KD8 Yang Qiao UB59 Yang Wei GB35

Back Transporting (Back-Shu) Points

Back Transporting (Back-Shu) points are the points on the back of the body where the Qi of the
Zang-Fu organs is infused. There is a Back-Shu point which corresponds to each Zang-Fu organ.
These points are used to treat the corresponding organ when pathology is most often, but not
limited to, a chronic nature.

LU UB13 PC UB14 HT UB15 LV UB18 GB UB19 SP UB20

ST UB21 SJ UB22 KD UB23 LI UB25 SI UB27 UB UB28
Front Collecting (Front-Mu) Points
Front Collecting (Front-Mu) points are the points on the chest and abdomen where the Qi of the
Zang-Fu is infused. They are also referred to as Alarm Points as they are anatomically located
very close to the organ with which they correspond and are often used to diagnosis pathology in
a corresponding organ. For example, a patient with a liver problem would be very sensitive at
LV14 (the Font-Mu Point) which would help to confirm the course of treatment.

LU LU1 PC RN17 HT RN14 LV LV14 GB GB24 SP LV13

ST RN12 SJ RN5 KD GB25 LI ST25 SI RN4 UB RN3

Eight Influential Points of the Eight Tissues

The Zang organs, Fu organs, bones, tendons, vessels, marrow, blood, and Qi are the eight tissues
in the body which have points used to influence them.

Zang Organs LV13 Fu Organs RN12 Bones UB11 Tendons GB34

Vessels LU9 Marrow GB39 Blood UB17 Qi RN17

The Four Command Points

There are four points on the body which are used because of their ability to strongly influence
certain regions of the body for therapeutic purposes.

Abdomen ST36 Back UB40 Face and Mouth LI4 Head and Neck LU7

Crossing Points
Crossing points are the points at which two or more meridians run across each other. They are
used to treat diseases of both their own meridian and the meridians which they cross. There are
about 90 of these points and are mostly located on the trunk, head and face.

The Group Luo Points

These points are very effective in the treatment of imbalances between the upper and lower, left
side and right side, Yin and Yang aspects of the body. They are especially useful when all three
channels which cross these points are effected. For Example, you would treat an imbalance
involving Spleen, Kidney, and Liver by needling SP6.

Arm Yang SJ8 Arm Yin PC5 Leg Yang GB39 Leg Yin SP6

Window Of The Sky Points

These points may be needled when particular symptoms point to the Yang Qi not ascending to
the head.

ST 9 Severe headache, chest fullness, and dyspnea (painful breathing).

LI 18 Inability to speak.
SJ 16 Acute deafness, visual problems.
UB10 Severe spasms in the muscles, vertigo.
LU 3 Nose bleeding, extreme thirst, and other bleeding disorders.
Entry and Exit Points
Meridians are also connected to each other through the circadian flow. Energy leaves one
channel and enters another through points on each meridian. However, these entry and exit
points are not always the first and the last on the channel!

Entry LU1 LI4 ST1 SP1 HT1 SI1 UB1 KD1 PC1 SJ1 GB1 LV1
Exit LU7 LI20 ST42 SP21 HT9 SI19 UB67 KD22 PC8 SJ22 GB41 LV14

The Tendo Muscular Meridians

These points are very effective in the treatment of dermatosis, muscular problems, and
neuralgias. They are accessed through the follow points.

Arm TMM Yang GB13/ST8 Arm TMM Yin GB22 Leg TMM Yang ST3/SI18 Leg TMM Yin RN3/4