Acupuncturology

1. Acupuncturology West China Hospital TCM Department

2. Introduction • The term “acupuncture” describes a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques. • The word “acupuncture” was originated by French Jesuits, from the Latin “acus” (needle) and “punctura” (puncture). In the 16th century.

3. History

4. Meridians and Collaterals • Meridians are pathways in which the qi and blood circulate and through which the viscera and limbs are connected, allowing the upper-lower and interior-exterior portions of the body to communicate. • Collaterals are branches of smaller meridians derived from the regular meridians, and mostly distribute themselves on the surface of the body.

6. Twelve Regular Meridians • The six yin meridians are symmetrically distributed over the interior aspects of the four limbs and the chest-abdomen. The six yang meridians are symmetrically distributed over the lateral aspects of four limbs.

7. The three yin meridians of hand run from the chest to the hand • The three yang meridians of hand run from the hands to the head • The three yang meridians of foot run from the head to the foot • The three yin meridians of foot run from the foot to the abdomen (chest).

8. The yin and yang meridians that are externally-internally related meet at the ends of the four limbs, the yang meridians with the same nomenclature meet on the face and head, and yin meridians (i.e., three yin meridians of hand and foot) meet at the chest.

9. in lung tip of the index finger sides of the nose tip of the great toe in heart tip of the little finger Inner canthus tip of the small toe in chest tip of the ring finger Outer canthus tip of the great toe The cyclical flow of qi in the Twelve Regular Meridians Six pairs of meridians with Interior-Exterior relationship

10. The Eight Extra Meridians

11. Du Ren Dai Chong • The further strengthening the communication of the twelve regular meridians • Regulating the qi and blood of the twelve regular meridians • The extra meridians have an established close relationship with the liver, kidney and extra-ordinary fu-viscera Yangqiao Yinqiao Yinwei Yangwei

12. The rest of the Meridian System

13. 腧穴 Acupoints

14. Introduction • Acupoints are the specific sites through which the qi of the zang-fu organs and meridians is transported to the body surface. Acupoints Meridians Zang-Fu organs Body Surface

15. Classification of Acupoints

16. Acupoints of the Fourteen Meridians • Also known as “ Regular Points” • Distributed along the twelve regular meridians, the Du and the Ren Meridians • Treat disorders of the related meridians and collaterals • Totally amounting to 361 points • Form the main part of all acupoints • Most commonly used

17. Extraordinary Points • Named "extra points" in short • Experiential points • Specific names and definite locations • Not attributed to the fourteen meridians • Effective in treating certain diseases

18. Ashi Points • Also called “reflexing points”, “unfixed points” or “tender spots.” • Without specific names and definite locations • Considered to represent the earliest stage of acupoint evolution • Mostly used for pain syndromes

19. Ear Points

20. Auricular points are specific points on the auricle to which stimuli are given for treatment of disease. • When disorders occur in the internal organs or other parts of the body, various reactions may appear at the corresponding parts of the auricle, such as tenderness, decreased resistance to electric current, morphological changes and discoloration.

21. Therapeutic Properties of Acupoints • The local and adjacent therapeutic properties Shangxing (DU-23) Yingxiang (LI-20) Shenting (DU-24) Kouheliao (LI-19) Nasal Disorders

22. Therapeutic Properties of Acupoints • The local and adjacent therapeutic properties Gastric Disorders Zhangmen (LR-13) Qihai (REN-6) Liangmen (ST-21) Zhongwan (REN-12)

23. Therapeutic Properties of Acupoints • The remote therapeutic properties As well as exogeneous diseases Disorders in the vertex Disorders in the chest, lung and throat Disorders on the upper limbs Lieque (LU-7)

24. Therapeutic Properties of Acupoints • The remote therapeutic properties Yanglingquan(GB-34) is effective not only for diseases of the lower limbs but also for hypochondrium, biliary, hepatic, and mental disorders as well as tendon abnormalities such as spasm and convulsion. Zusanli(ST-36) not only treats disorders of the lower limbs, but also regulates the whole digestive system, even has certain effect on body defensive and immune reactions of the body.

25. Therapeutic Properties of Acupoints • Special therapeutic properties Puncturing Tianshu (ST-25) relieves both diarrhea and constipation Puncturing Neiguan (PC-6) corrects both tachycardia and bradycardia.

26. Therapeutic Properties of Acupoints • Special therapeutic properties Ggeneral therapeutic properties of points ---Dazhui (DU-14) has an antipyretic effect ---Zhiyin(BL-67) is indicated in malposition of a fetus

27. Specific Points • Specific points refer to those of the fourteen channels that have special therapeutic properties. On the limbs One on the head and the trunk

28. Five Shu Points Flow direction

29. Yuan-Primary Points • Located in the vicinity of the wrist and ankle • The twelve Yuan-Primary Points are closely related to the zang-fu organs • They are the points where the primary qi of the zang-fu organs is retained

30. Luo-Connecting Points • Each of the twelve regular channels has, on the limbs, a collateral to link its exteriorly-interiorly related yin and yang channels. • All 15 Luo-Connecting Points 12 channels REN DU Major collateral of the Spleen

31. Back-Shu Points • Back-Shu Points are corresponding points on the back where the qi of the respective zang-fu organs is infused.

32. Front-Mu Points • Front-Mu Points are those on the chest and abdomen where the qi of the respective zang-fu organs is infused and converged.

33. Eight Confluence Points • Eight Confluence Points refer to the eight points on the limbs where the regular meridians communicate with the eight extra meridians.

34. Methods of Locating Acupoints

35. Bone-Length Measurement • Also known as proportional measurement • Take bone segments as measurement markers • Measure the width or length of various portions of the body • Basic principle of locating acupoints

37. The distance between and lateral margin of acromion process is 8 cun. • The distance between centre of nipple and midline is 4 cun. • The distance between jugular notch and xiphisternal joint is 9 cun. • The distance between xiphisternal joint and centre of umbilicus is 8 cun. • The distance between anterior (or posterior) axillary fold and transverse cubital crease is 9 cun. • The distance between cubital crease and wrist crease is 12 cun.

38. The distance between centre of umbilicus and superior border of pubic symphysis is 5 cun. • The distance between (superior) lateral prominence of greater trochanter and popliteal crease (joint line of knee) is 19 cun. • The distance from superior pubic symphysis to the upper border of the medial epicondyle of femur is 18 cun. • The distance between the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia and the tip of the medial malleolus is 13 cun. • The distance between the popiteal crease and the tip of the external malleolus is 16 cun. 18 cun 16 cun 13 cun

39. Anatomical Landmarks • Landmarkers of body surface (Fixed or Movable) Jingming (BL-1) Shenque (REN-8)

40. Anatomical Landmarks • Landmarkers of body surface (Fixed or Movable) Houxi (SI-3) Yangxi (LI-5)

41. Simple Measurement Lieque (LU-7) Fengshi (GB-31)

42. Finger Measurement Middle Finger Measurement Thumb Measurement Four-finger Measurement