This chapter is based on 《Su Wen Chapter 59》.
|
The purpose of this Chapter is to discuss the relation between acupoint and meridian. |
《素問氣府論篇第五十九》
足太陽脈氣所發者七十八穴﹕兩眉頭各一﹐入發際至頂三寸半﹐傍五﹐相去三寸﹔其浮氣在皮中者﹐凡五行﹐行五﹐五五二上五﹔項中大筋兩旁各一﹔風府兩旁各一﹔挾脊以下至尻尾二十一節﹐十五間各一﹐五藏之輸各五﹔六府之輸各六﹔委中以下至足小指旁各六輸。
《Su Wen Chapter 59》
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Foot-Taiyang Meridian bilaterally are seventy-eight in all.
The locations and the number of acupoints are described in the following tables.
Table 4-3-1 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Foot-Taiyang Meridian
|
Location |
Medial end of eyebrow |
On the head, within the hair |
Lateral aspect of m. trapezius. |
Lateral side of DU 16 |
Side of spine, Back-Shu of five-Zang & six-Fu on first line; 30 points on the second line |
From UB 40 to little toe.(Five-Shu points) |
|
Amount |
2 |
25 |
2 |
2 |
52 |
12 |
足少陽脈氣所發者六十二穴﹕兩角上各二﹔直目上髮髻內各五﹔耳前角上各一﹔耳前角下各一﹔銳髮下各一﹔客主人各一﹔耳後陷中各一﹔下關各一﹔耳下牙車之後各一﹔缺盆各一﹔腋下三寸﹐協下至胠八間各一﹔髀樞中旁各一﹔膝以下至足小指次指各六穴。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Foot-Shaoyang Meridian bilaterally are sixty-two in all.
Table 4-3-2 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Foot-Shaoyang Meridian
|
Location |
Above the ear |
Directly above the pupil, within the hairline |
Anterior & superior of ear |
Anterior to the intertragic notch |
|
Amount |
4 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
|
Location |
On the upper border of the zygomatic arch |
Posterior to the lobule of ear |
On the lower border of the zygomatic arch |
Anterior & superior to the angle of the mandible |
|
Amount |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Location |
Supraclavicular fossa |
Hypochondriac region |
Next to the hip joint |
From the knee to fourth toe |
|
Amount |
2 |
16 |
2 |
12 |
足陽明脈氣所發者六十八穴﹕額顱髮髻旁各三﹔面鼽骨空各一﹔大迎之骨空各一﹔人迎各一﹔缺盆外骨空各一﹔膺中骨間各一﹔俠鳩尾之外﹐當乳下三寸﹐俠胃皖各五﹔俠齊廣三寸各三﹔下齊二寸俠之各三﹔氣街動脈各一﹔伏兔上各一﹔三里以下至足中指各八輸﹐分之所在穴空。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Foot-Yangming Meridian bilaterally are sixty-eight in all.
Table 4-3-3 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Foot-Yangming Meridian
|
Location |
Within the hairline, near the corner of the forehead |
Below the eye |
On the anterior border of the attached portion of m. masseter. |
Renying (ST 9) |
|
Amount |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Location |
Lateral to supraclavicular fossa |
In the intercostal space of chest |
Above the umbilicus, at side of front midline |
Around the umbilicus, at the side of front midline |
|
Amount |
2 |
12 |
10 |
6 |
Table 4-3-3 Continued
|
Location |
Below the umbilicus, at the side of front midline |
Next to the superficial epigastric artery |
6 cun above the Futu(ST 32) |
From ST 36 to 2nd toe |
|
Amount |
6 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
手太陽脈氣所發者三十六﹕目內眥各一﹔目外各一﹔鼽骨下各一﹔耳郭上各一﹔耳中各一﹔巨骨穴各一﹔曲腋上骨穴各一﹔柱骨上陷者各一﹔上天窗四寸各一﹔肩解各一﹔肩解下三寸各一﹔肘以下至手小指本各六輸。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Hand-Taiyang Meridian bilaterally are thirty-six in all.
Table 4-3-4 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Hand-Taiyang Meridian
|
Location |
Inner canthus |
Outer canthus |
Below the outer canthus, on the lower border of zygoma |
Directly above the ear apex |
|
Amount |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Location |
Anterior to tragus |
Jugu (LI 16) |
Above the posterior end of armpit, in the depression inferior to the scapular spine |
On the shoulder |
|
Amount |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Location |
Posterior and superior to the mastoid process |
In the center of the suprascapular fossa |
In the infrascapular fossa |
From elbow to little finger |
|
Amount |
2 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
手陽明脈氣所發者二十二穴﹕鼻空外廉﹐項上各二﹔大迎骨空各一﹔柱骨之會各一﹔禺骨之會各一﹔肘以下至手大指﹐次指本各六輸。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Hand-Yangming Meridian are bilaterally twenty-two in all.
Table 4-3-5 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Hand-Yangming Meridian
|
Location |
Side of nose and neck |
Daying (ST 5) |
Side of neck, on the posterior border of m. sternocleidomastoideus. |
Anterior –inferior to the acromion |
From the elbow to index finger |
|
Amount |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
手少陽脈氣所發者三十二穴﹕鼽骨下各一﹔眉後各一﹔角上各一﹔下完骨後各一﹔項中足太陽之前各一﹔俠扶突各一﹔肩貞各一﹔肩貞下三寸分間各一﹔肘以下至手小指﹐次指本各六輸。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Hand-Shaoyang Meridian are bilaterally thirty-two in all.
Table 4-3-6 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Hand-Shaoyang Meridian
|
Location |
On the lower border of zygoma |
Lateral end of eyebrow |
Anterior to ear apex |
Posterior & inferior of the mastoid process |
|
Amount |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Nape |
Lateral to Futu(LI 18) |
Jiangzhen (SI 9) |
Below the Jiangzen, on the lateral aspect of upper arm |
From the elbow to ring finger |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
12 |
督脈脈氣所發者二十八穴﹕項中央二﹔髮髻後中八﹔面中三﹔大椎以下至尻尾及旁十五穴。至邸下凡二十一節﹔脊椎法也。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Du Meridian are twenty-eight in all.
Table 4-3-7 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Du Meridian
|
Location |
nape |
Within the hair |
On the face |
From Dazhui(Du 14) to sacrum |
|
Amount |
2 |
8 |
3 |
15 |
任脈之氣所發者二十八穴﹕喉中央二﹔膺中央骨陷中各一﹔鳩尾下三寸﹐胃脘五寸﹔胃脘以下至橫骨六寸半一﹐腹脈法也。下陰別一﹔目下各一﹔下唇一﹔齦交一。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Ren Meridian are twenty-eight in all.
Table 4-3-8 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Ren Meridian
|
Location |
On the front middle line of neck |
On the front middle line of chest |
Above the umbilicus |
Below the umbilicus |
|
Numbers |
2 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
|
Location |
Perineum |
Below the eye |
Below the lip |
Yingjiao(Du 28) |
|
Numbers |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
沖脈氣所發者二十二穴﹕俠鳩尾外各半寸至臍寸一﹔俠臍下旁各五分至橫骨寸一﹐腹脈法也。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Chong Meridian are twenty-two in all.
Table 4-3-9 Location and Amount of Acupoints of Chong Meridian
|
Location |
Above & lateral to the umbilicus |
Below & lateral to the umbilicus |
|
Amount |
12 |
10 |
足少陰舌下﹔厥陰毛中急脈各一﹔手少陰各一﹔陰陽蹻各一﹔
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Foot-Shaoyin are one; Hand-Shaoyin two; Foot-Jueyin two; and Yin/Yang Qiao Meridians four.
Table 4-3-10 Location and Amount of Acupoints of other Meridians
|
Meridian |
Foot-Shaoyin |
Foot-Jueyin |
Hand-Shaoyin |
Yin/Yang Qiao |
|
Location |
Below the tongue |
Inferior and lateral to the pubic bone |
No mention |
No mention |
|
Amount |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
手足諸魚際脈氣所發者。凡三百六十五穴也。
The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of the Meridians are located at thenar eminence of hand and foot (Which indicate the Lung Meridian and Spleen Meridian).
Three hundred sixty-five acupoints are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of all the Meridians.
【Comment】
In the past generations, acupuncturists who studied 《Huangdi Neijing》 were always puzzled by this chapter for several reasons. First, the actual number of acupoints of each Meridian in this chapter is different with the present day textbooks. For example in this chapter of 《Huangdi Neijing》, it states that there are seventy-eight acupoints of the Foot-Taiyang bilaterally in all, but the current textbooks states that there are sixty-seventy acupoints of the Foot-Taiyang on one side. Second, the locations and the numbers of acupoints of the Six Yang Meridians is described in detail in this chapter of 《Huangdi Neijing》, but only one point from each of the Hand and Foot-Shaoyin and the Foot-Jueyin of the Yin Meridians is mentioned. Lastly, though at the end of this chapter《Huangdi Neijing》 states that there are three hundred sixty-five acupoints in all, the actual number of acupoints mentioned in this chapter (even deducting acupoints that were counted twice) is more than three hundred and sixty-five.
Therefore, most acupuncturists pay very little attention to this chapter, even though it is one of the only two chapters (another one is chapter 58) in 《Su Wen》 which has a title that related “Acupoint” and also has a fully detailed discussion on the subject of acupoint.
《Su Wen Chapter 58》classifies the acupoints according to their functions and in 《Su Wen Chapter 59》the relationship between acupoints and Meridians is discussed. Both chapters reveal the function of acupoints from different aspects. As we already know, an acupoint is the location where the Qi/Blood of a Meridian gather. That is the general relationship between an acupoint and a Meridian. This tells the physiological relationship between an acupoint and a Meridian. Then in this chapter, one may notice that for each meridian introduced there is the statement, “The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of a Meridian”. And the same statement, “The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of a Meridian” is repeated ten times in this chapter. Whenever something is repeated in 《Huangdi Neijing》it means that it is very important.
Another example of such repetition is regarding the principles of treatment for the dysfunctions of Meridians in 《Ling Shu Chapter 10》. “ The principle of the treatment for the above dysfunction of Meridian is to reduce if in an excess condition, reinforce if in a deficient condition, retain the needle if it is cold syndrome, puncture and quick withdraw the needle if it is heat syndrome, apply moxibustion if the location of the acupoint shows signs of sinking, puncture the Meridian in disorder if the pulse of Cunkou (radial artery) and Renying (carotid artery) are even”. This was repeated twelve times after each discussion of a Meridian.
“The Acupoints which are emanated and formed by the Qi/Blood of a Meridian” reveals a very important relationship between Meridian and acupoint; certain groups of acupoints belong to a Meridian in respect to its Qi/Blood. This is the earliest and most important theory regarding an acupoint in《Huangdi Neijing》, and in fact this establishes the principle for applying acupoints.
Figure 4-3-1 Relationship between Acupoints of Hand-Yangming Meridian and the Hand-Yangming Meridian
This figure reveals two of most important facts about acupoints.
(1) Acupoints A,B,C, D are formed by the Qi/Blood of Hand-Yangming Meridian, therefore the relationship between the acupoints and Meridian is no longer general, but particular. Among the 365 acupoints, only these 22 acupoints physiologically belong to Hand-Yangming Meridian. Therefore, only these 22 acupoints can be used for the dysfunctions of the Hand-Yangming Meridian.
The significance here is that the functions and the indications of an acupoint are definite. The indications of an acupoint equal the symptoms of the dysfunctions of its pertaining Meridian. For example, the function of acupoint A can regulate the Hand-Yangming Meridian; the indications of acupoint A are “toothache, and swelling of the neck” which are the symptoms due to the dysfunction of the Hand-Yangming Meridian. The same applies for acupoint B, C, D and other acupoints of Hand-Yangming Meridian.
Therefore, the functions and indications of all acupoints are definite because “the Acupoints which are formed by the Qi/Blood of X Meridian”. In other words, the functions and indications of each acupoint are related only with its pertaining Meridian, not any other Meridian. This is a very important principle in the application of an acupoint.
Figurate 4-3-2 Function and Indications of Acupoints A, B, C, D of LI/M
In later generations, although the theory of an acupoint belonging to a Meridian is still there, the significance of this theory has been lost. This loss results in the misuse of acupoints. Textbooks list different indications of an acupoint but do not explain the relationship between the indications of an acupoint and the meridian which the acupoint belongs to. Therefore, it is very difficult to remember all the indications and applications of an acupoint because they do not only depend on the relationship between an acupoint and its meridian. Acupuncturists only remember a few indications that are considered most important for an acupoint according to some famous acupuncturist’s clinical experience. For example, LI 4 is for diseases related with the face and mouth; DU 14 and LI 11 for febrile disease; UB 40 for backache; H 7 for mental problem; ST 40 for remove the phlegm, etc.
(2) From the above Figure 2-2-1, one sees that Acupoints of A, B, C, D are related with the Hand-Yangming Meridian directly and individually. Each of them equally represents the Hand-Yangming Meridian. Acupoint A = B = C = D; Hand-Yangming Meridian is the root and source of A, B, C, D, so A, B, C, and D have a relationship with the Hand-Yangming Meridian directly and individually, there is no other relationship among the acupoints themselves. And from the aspect of Qi/blood, Hand-Yangming Meridian can be considered the mother of these points. This is another very important principle in the application of acupoints. The theory of Mother and Son Points, which comes from 《Nanjing》, obviously contradicts this principle; refer to the chapter "Five Shu Points" for more discussions.
(3) In 《Su Wen Chapter 59》, all the Back-Shu acupoints of Zang-Fu organs are listed under the acupoints of the Foot-Taiyang. This is important evidence that those acupoints are not directly related with Zang-Fu organs in 《Huangdi Neijing》. Please refer to the chapter "Back-Shu and Front-Mu Points" for more discussion on this subject.
(4) “The Acupoints which are formed by the Qi/Blood of the Chong Meridian are twenty-two in all.” This helps our understanding of the Chong Meridian.
(5) The number of acupoints on each Meridian that is commonly known today originates from the 《Exposition of the Fourteen Meridians》 (AD 1341).
(6) 《 Su Wen Chapter 59》 focuses on the relationship between an acupoint and a Meridian, not the actual number of acupoints. That is why this chapter does not introduce all the acupoints of the Six Yin Meridians, and only mentions them indirectly. One such statement; “the Acupoints that originate from the Qi/Blood of the Hand-Shaoyin are two”. In this case they are using the two acupoints to represent all the acupoints of the Hand-Shaoyin Meridian. This is similar to “the Acupoints originated from the Qi/Blood of the Meridians at the thenar eminence of the hand and foot (this indicates the Lung Meridian and the Spleen Meridian)”.
(7) The number "365" corresponds with the 365 days of a year; therefore, 365 acupoints is just an approximate number, not the exact number.
The central idea for this chapter is that “A particular group of acupoints belongs to a particular Meridian”.