Comprehensive Acupuncture Guide: From Skin to Bones

Cold and heat sensations on the skin, pain preventing contact with the bed, dry hair, parched nostrils, and inability to sweat, should be treated by targeting the络穴 (luò xué, connecting points) of the 足太阳经 (zú tàiyáng jīng, Bladder Meridian), to supplement the deficiencies of 手太阴经 (shǒu tàiyīn jīng, Lung Meridian). For muscle cold and heat, which causes tendon pain, dry hair, parched lips and tongue, and inability to sweat, use the lower limb’s 络穴 on the 足太阳经 to release stasis and supplement 足太阴经, allowing sweat to emerge.

For bone cold and heat, patients are restless and sweat profusely. If teeth haven’t shown signs of decay, use the 大钟穴 (dà zhōng xué) on the inner thigh of 足少阴经 (zú shǎoyīn jīng, Kidney Meridian). If teeth are decayed, it is an untreatable fatal condition. The diagnosis and treatment of bone厥 (jué) is similar. For bone痹 (bì), where joints are immobile and painful, and sweating is profuse with inner turmoil, target the 三阴经 (sān yīn jīng, Three Yin Meridians) acupoints using the tonifying method.

Injuries from metal weapons causing heavy bleeding, wind-cold invasion, or falls leading to limb weakness and lethargy, termed体惰 (tǐ duò), can be treated by targeting the三结交 (sān jié jiāo) in the lower abdomen, near the关元穴 (guān yuán xué, Conception Vessel Intersection). For厥痹 (jué bì), where逆气 (nì qì, rebellious qi) rises to the abdomen, use the 络穴 of 阴经 (yīn jīng) or 阳经 (yáng jīng) after diagnosing the primary ailment, using the reducing method on 阳经 and tonifying method on 阴经.

The carotid artery at the side of the neck is the 人迎穴 (rén yíng xué) on the 足阳明胃经 (zú yángmíng wèi jīng, Stomach Meridian). Behind it, on 手阳明经 (shǒu yángmíng jīng, Large Intestine Meridian), is the 扶突穴 (fú tū xué). Further back is 天牖穴 (tiān yǒu xué) on 手少阳经 (shǒu shàoyáng jīng, Triple Energizer Meridian). Behind it is 天柱穴 (tiān zhù xué) on 足太阳经 (zú tàiyáng jīng, Bladder Meridian). Three inches below the armpit is the 天府穴 (tiān fǔ xué) on 手太阴经.

For逆阳邪 (nì yáng xié) causing headaches, chest fullness, and breathing difficulties, treat with人迎穴. Sudden aphonia, stiff throat and tongue, treat with扶突穴 and tongue base needling for bleeding. Sudden deafness and blurry vision due to obscured经气 (jīng qì), treat with天牖穴. For convulsions, epilepsy, dizziness, and weak legs, treat with天柱穴. For sudden thirst, reversed abdominal气, internal fire from肝 and肺 (gān and fèi, liver and lung) battling and causing blood to surge out of the nose and mouth, treat with天府穴. These five points are known as the五部 (wǔ bù).

The 手阳明大肠经 (shǒu yángmíng dàcháng jīng, Large Intestine Meridian) enters the cheek, covering all teeth, known as 大迎 (dà yíng). For lower toothache, treat with大迎穴. For cold sensitivity, use the tonifying method; if not, use the reducing method. The 足太阳膀胱经 (zú tàiyáng pángguāng jīng, Bladder Meridian) enters the cheek covering all teeth, known as 角孙 (jiǎo sūn). For upper toothache, treat with角孙穴 and points in front of the nose and cheekbones. If the ailment is just beginning with strong pulse气, use the reducing method; otherwise, use the tonifying method. Another method involves points on the outer side of the nose.

The 足阳明胃经 (zú yángmíng wèi jīng, Stomach Meridian) travels along the nose into the face, called 悬颅 (xuán lú). Its meridians descend to the mouth and ascend to the eyes. Points should be chosen based on the ailment’s location, reducing excess and tonifying deficiencies. Incorrect selection can worsen the condition. The 足太阳膀胱经 enters the brain through the neck, connecting directly to the eye region, called 眼系 (yǎn xì). For head and eye pain, choose points between the neck muscles. The meridian splits into 阴阳二跷脉 (yīnyáng èr qiāo mài) at the brain, intersecting at the eye’s inner corner. Excess 阳气 keeps eyes open, excess 阴气 keeps them closed.

When dealing with heat – induced syncope, treatment involves the Spleen Meridian of Foot – Taiyin and the Liver Meridian of Foot – Shaoyang. For cold – induced syncope, the Stomach Meridian of Foot – Yangming and the Kidney Meridian of Foot – Shao yin are targeted, with needle retention being essential in both cases. When the tongue is flaccid and unresponsive, and there is drooling from the corner of the mouth, along with a feeling of oppression in the chest, points on the Lung Meridian of Hand – Taiyin should be selected. When treating conditions where the body’s vital energy is deficient, the needle should follow the direction of the pulse qi to tonify; when treating conditions where pathogenic energy is excessive, the needle should oppose the direction of the pulse qi to drain.

In spring, acupuncture points are selected on the network vessels; in summer, points are chosen between the muscles and the skin; in autumn, points are selected at the qi – mouth (a term referring to specific pulse – taking sites); and in winter, points are chosen on the meridians themselves. All these seasonal acupuncture practices should be adapted to and coordinated with the characteristics of the seasons. Selecting points on the network vessels and pulse points can treat skin conditions; selecting points between the muscles and the skin can treat muscular issues; selecting points at the qi – mouth can treat tendon and vessel problems; and selecting points on the various meridians can treat diseases of the bones, marrow, and the five viscera. The five viscera have five important locations in the body: the first is the “Fu Tu” (a specific area on the thigh), the second is the lower leg, the third is the back (where the Governing Vessel and Bladder Meridian run – translator’s note), the fourth is the transport points of the five viscera, and the fifth is the neck area. If abscesses or carbuncles occur in these five areas, they are considered incurable conditions.

For diseases that start in the arms, points on the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand – Yangming and the Lung Meridian of Hand – Taiyin can be selected first to induce sweating; for diseases that start in the head, points on the Bladder Meridian of Foot – Taiyang in the neck area can be selected first to induce sweating; for diseases that start in the feet or lower legs, points on the Stomach Meridian of Foot – Yangming can be selected first to induce sweating. Needling points on the Lung Meridian of Hand – Taiyin can induce sweating, and needling points on the Stomach Meridian of Foot – Yangming can also induce sweating. If excessive sweating occurs after needling yin meridians, points on the yang meridians can be selected to stop the sweating; if excessive sweating occurs after needling yang meridians, points on the yin meridians can be selected to stop the sweating.

The general dangers of improper acupuncture are as follows: First, inserting the needle into the pathogenic evil and leaving it in place can lead to the depletion of the patient’s vital energy; second, removing the needle immediately without reaching the pathogenic evil can cause the evil qi to congeal and not disperse. Depletion of vital energy can worsen the condition and weaken the body, while the congealing of evil qi can lead to abscesses and carbuncles.