Mastering the 5 Key Acupuncture Points: A Witty Guide to Meridian Pathways

Huang Di leaned forward, twirling his jade acupuncture needle like a maestro’s baton. “O wise Qibo! To master needling, one must navigate the body’s meridian highways like a celestial cartographer. Tell me of the twelve meridians’ secret routes, those sneaky collateral branches, and the five mystical shu-points where qi pools like hidden springs!”

Qibo’s Playful Anatomy Tour:
“Let’s embark on a meridian road trip, Your Majesty! Buckle up – we’re starting with the Lung meridian’s greatest hits!”

1️⃣ Hand-Taiyin (Lung) Symphony:
• 井 Well Point: Shaoshang (木 Wood) – Thumb’s edge, where qi bubbles up like a mountain spring.
• 荥 Spring Point: Yuji – The “fish border” where energy streams through your palm’s fleshy delta.
• 输 Stream Point: Taiyuan – Wrist’s moon crater, perfect for catching wayward qi.
• 经 River Point: Jingqu – Pulse city! Feel the qi rapids at your inch-opening.
• 合 Sea Point: Chize – Elbow’s energetic harbor where lung qi anchors.

💡 Pro Tip: Trace this path next time you cough – your lungs will thank you with clearer breaths!

2️⃣ Heart’s Secret Passage (Hand-Shaoyin):
“Now to the heart’s covert channels – shh, it’s beating listening!”
• 井 Well: Zhongchong (木 Wood) – Middle fingertip: Your emotional reset button.
• 荥 Spring: Laogong – Palm’s “Labor Palace” – rub here when stressed!
• 输 Stream: Daling – Wrist’s bone valley – heartache’s first responder.
• 经 River: Jianshi – Three inches up, your personal lie detector (only pulses when troubled!).
• 合 Sea: Quze – Inner elbow’s qi pool – perfect for cooling fiery emotions.

3️⃣ Liver’s Detour Route (Foot-Jueyin):
“Time for a liver detox roadtrip!”
• 井 Well: Dadun (木 Wood) – Big toe’s hairy launchpad.
• 荥 Spring: Xingjian – Toe web’s energy intersection.
• 输 Stream: Taichong – Foot’s stress-relief button (2 cun up!).
• 经 River: Zhongfeng – Ankle’s “seesaw point” (toes up = magic gateway!).
• 合 Sea: Ququan – Knee’s hidden cove – find it in seated meditation.

🔥 Hot Tip: Massage Taichong during headaches – your liver’s SOS signal!

4️⃣ Spleen’s Earthy Pathway (Foot-Taiyin):
“Let’s ground ourselves with spleen qi!”
• 井 Well: Yinbai (木 Wood) – Big toe’s pearly gate.
• 荥 Spring: Dadu – Metatarsal’s energy greenhouse.
• 输 Stream: Taibai – Arch’s celestial balance point.
• 经 River: Shangqiu – Ankle’s earthy bridge.
• 合 Sea: Yinlingquan – Knee’s yin harbor – press for digestive harmony.

5️⃣ Kidney’s Aquatic Network (Foot-Shaoyin):
“Dive into kidney essence!”
• 井 Well: Yongquan (木 Wood) – Soul’s spring in foot’s arch.
• 荥 Spring: Rangu – Ankle’s pre-dawn energy station.
• 输 Stream: Taixi – Achilles’ pulse – fertility’s secret keeper.
• 经 River: Fuliu – Calf’s rising tide point.
• 合 Sea: Yingu – Knee’s yin grotto – tap for backpower boost.

6️⃣ Bladder’s Golden Journey (Foot-Taiyang):
“Last stop: The bladder’s metallic expressway!”
• 井 Well: Zhiyin (金 Metal) – Pinky toe’s golden launchpad.
• 荥 Spring: Tonggu – Foot’s energy customs checkpoint.
• 输 Stream: Shugu – Metatarsal’s qi sorting facility.
• 原 Source: Jinggu – Foot’s bony observatory.
• 经 River: Kunlun – Ankle’s mythical mountain pass.
• 合 Sea: Weizhong – Knee’s liquid crossroads.

🎯 SEO Bonus: Bookmark this guide! These 56 strategic points form your body’s ancient Google Maps for health optimization. Practice locating three points daily – your fingers will develop “qi GPS” in no time!

Remember: As Qibo would tweet 🐦 – “Meridians aren’t anatomy; they’re live energy streams. Learn their rhythm, and you’ll conduct the body’s symphony!”

The Qi and blood of the Gallbladder meridian originate from the Qiaoyin acupoint. Qiaoyin is located at the tip of the second toe on the outer side of the little toe, and it is a Jing – well point, associated with the element of metal. The Qi and blood then flow to the Xiaxi acupoint, which is situated between the little toe and the fourth toe, and it is a Ying – spring point. They further flow to the Linqi acupoint, which is in the recess 1.5 transverse fingers above Xiaxi, and it is a Shu – stream point. The Qi and blood pass through the Qiuxu acupoint, which is in the recess in front of the outer ankle bone, and it is a Yuan – source point. They travel along the Yangfu acupoint, which is more than four transverse fingers above the outer ankle, in front of the fibula, and at the upper end of the “cut bone”, and it is a Jing – river point. Finally, they converge into the Yanglingquan acupoint, which is in the recess on the outer side of the knee, and it is a He – sea point. You can find it by extending your foot. These are the six Shu – transport points of the Foot Shaoyang meridian.

The Qi and blood of the Stomach meridian originate from the Lide acupoint. Lide is located at the tip of the second toe on the outer side of the big toe, and it is a Jing – well point, associated with the element of metal. The Qi and blood then flow to the Neiting acupoint, which is between the outer side of the second toe and the middle toe, and it is a Ying – spring point. They further flow to the Xiangu acupoint, which is in the recess two transverse fingers above the inner side of the middle toe, and it is a Shu – stream point. The Qi and blood pass through the Chongyang acupoint, which is in the recess about five transverse fingers above the toe seam on the top of the foot, and it is a Yuan – source point. You can find it by shaking your foot. They travel along the Jiexi acupoint, which is in the recess 1.5 transverse fingers above Chongyang, and it is a Jing – river point. Finally, they converge into the Xia陵 acupoint, which is the Sanli acupoint located three transverse fingers below the knee on the outer edge of the tibia, and it is a He – sea point. Three inches below Sanli is the Shangjuxu acupoint, and three inches below Shangjuxu is the Xiajuxu acupoint. The large intestine is associated with the upper part, and the small intestine is associated with the lower part. Since the large intestine and small intestine are connected to the lower part of the stomach in the body, they are also connected to the Foot Yangming Stomach meridian. These are the six Shu – transport points of the Foot Yangming meridian.

The Triple Burner is connected to the Hand Shaoyang meridian. Its Qi and blood originate from the Guanchong acupoint, which is located at the tip of the ring finger, and it is a Jing – well point, associated with the element of metal. The Qi and blood then flow to the Ye门 acupoint, which is between the little finger and the second finger, and it is a Ying – spring point. They further flow to the Zhongzhu acupoint, which is in the recess behind the first knuckle of the ring finger, and it is a Shu – stream point. The Qi and blood pass through the Yangchi acupoint, which is in the recess on the wrist, and it is a Yuan – source point. They travel along the Zhigou acupoint, which is in the recess between two bones three transverse fingers behind the wrist, and it is a Jing – river point. Finally, they converge into the Tianjing acupoint, which is in the recess above the outer large bone of the elbow, and it is a He – sea point. You can find it by bending your elbow. The Qi of the Triple Burner that is transported to the lower part is in front of the Foot Taiyang meridian and behind the Foot Shaoyang meridian. It comes out from the outer edge of the knee popliteal fossa and is called Weiyang, which is the large Luo vessel of the Foot Taiyang meridian and also the meridian of the Hand Shaoyang. Although the Triple Burner belongs to the Hand Shaoyang meridian, it is supplied by the Foot Shaoyang and Taiyang meridians in the lower part. Therefore, it also branches out from five transverse fingers above the outer ankle, passes through the calf, comes out from Weiyang, and runs parallel to the main meridian of the Foot Taiyang, entering the abdomen to connect with the bladder and restraining the lower Jiao. When the Qi is excessive, it causes difficulty in urination, and when the Qi is deficient, it causes enuresis. Enuresis should be treated with the tonifying method, and difficulty in urination should be treated with the draining method.

The Small Intestine is connected to the Hand Taiyang meridian. Its Qi and blood originate from the Shaoze acupoint, which is located at the outer side of the little finger of the hand, and it is a Jing – well point, associated with the element of metal. The Qi and blood then flow to the Qian谷 acupoint, which is in the recess in front of the first knuckle of the outer side of the hand, and it is a Ying – spring point. They further flow to the Houxi acupoint, which is behind the first knuckle of the outer side of the little finger of the hand, and it is a Shu – stream point. The Qi and blood pass through the Wangu acupoint, which is in front of the outer side wrist bone, and it is a Yuan – source point. They travel along the Yanggu acupoint, which is in the recess below the sharp bone behind the wrist, and it is a Jing – river point. Finally, they converge into the Xiaohai acupoint, which is in the recess half a transverse finger away from the bone tip on the outer side of the elbow, and it is a He – sea point. You can find it by extending your arm. These are the six Shu – transport points of the Hand Taiyang meridian.

The Large Intestine is connected to the Hand Yangming meridian. Its Qi and blood originate from the Shangyang acupoint, which is located at the inner side tip of the index finger, and it is a Jing – well point, associated with the element of metal. The Qi and blood then flow to the Erjian acupoint, which is in the recess in front of the first knuckle of the index finger, and it is a Ying – spring point. They further flow to the Sanjian acupoint, which is behind the first knuckle, and it is a Shu – stream point. The Qi and blood pass through the Hegu acupoint, which is between the bones of the thumb and second finger, and it is a Yuan – source point. They travel along the Yangxi acupoint, which is in the recess between two tendons behind the first knuckle of the thumb and above the wrist, and it is a Jing – river point. Finally, they converge into the Quchi acupoint, which is in the recess of the outer side auxiliary bone of the elbow, and it is a He – sea point. You can find it by bending your arm. These are the six Shu – transport points of the Hand Yangming meridian.

The above – mentioned are the Shu – transport points of the five viscera and six bowels. There are 25 Shu – transport points in the Yin meridians of the five viscera (5 each, 5 * 5 = 25), and 36 Shu – transport points in the Yang meridians of the six bowels (6 each, 6 * 6 = 36). The Qi and blood of the six bowels all travel through the Foot Three Yang meridians and then converge to the Hand meridians.

At the center of the two depressions on either side of the body lies the Ren Meridian, where the acupoint Tian Tu is located. The next arterial pathway, following the Ren Meridian, is the foot Yangming Meridian, marked by the acupoint Ren Ying. Moving further, the second pathway corresponds to the hand Yangming Meridian, where you’ll find the acupoint Fu Tu. The third pathway aligns with the hand Taiyang Meridian, with the acupoint Tian Chuang situated along its course. The fourth pathway corresponds to the foot Shaoyang Meridian, where the acupoint Tian Rong is found. Next, the fifth pathway corresponds to the hand Shaoyang Meridian, with the acupoint Tian You along it. The sixth pathway aligns with the foot Taiyang Meridian, where the acupoint Tian Zhu can be found. Lastly, the seventh pathway, located centrally at the neck (or nape), corresponds to the Du Meridian, where the acupoint Feng Fu resides.

On the inside of the upper arm, near the armpit, you’ll find the artery associated with the hand Taiyin Meridian, which holds the acupoint Tian Fu. On the side of the chest, three inches below the armpit, is the path of the hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, where the acupoint Tian Chi is located.

When needling the Shang Guan point, the mouth must be open and not closed. Similarly, when needling the Xia Guan point, the mouth must remain closed and not open. To needle the Du Bi point, the knee must bend, and not the foot extended. When needling the Nei Guan and Wai Guan points, the hand must be stretched out and not bent.

The artery of the foot Yangming Stomach Meridian runs along the throat, with acupoints distributed on either side of the chest. The acupoints of the hand Yangming Meridian are located on the outer side, about one inch away from the Qu Jiao point. The hand Taiyang Meridian’s acupoint is found at the Qu Jiao point itself. The foot Shaoyang Meridian’s acupoint is found beneath the ear, behind the Qu Jiao point. The acupoint of the hand Shaoyang Meridian is located above the ear’s mastoid bone, while the foot Taiyang Meridian’s acupoint is found at the back of the neck, in the hollow beneath the large muscle that runs along the sides of the neck.

The Wu Li point is located three inches above the Chi Ze point, where there is an artery. This point should not be repeatedly needled, as it may deplete the blood and energy from the five meridians.

Each organ system is paired with another: The lungs connect to the large intestine, which is responsible for processing the remnants of the small intestine. The heart connects to the small intestine, the organ responsible for absorbing digested food from the stomach. The liver connects to the gallbladder, which stores the refined bile. The spleen connects to the stomach, which digests grains and other foods. The kidneys pair with the bladder, the organ that stores urine. The hand Shaoyang Meridian is also related to the kidneys and their connection to the lungs, thereby governing both the Sanjiao and the bladder. The Sanjiao, like a riverway, governs the flow of fluids within the body. Despite its key role, it functions somewhat independently, with no direct organ counterpart. This highlights the interconnectedness of the six fu and five zang organs.

When treating diseases in spring, one should target the Luo and Ying acupoints, as well as the points located between the meridians and the flesh. Deeper needling should be applied in more severe cases, while shallower needling suffices for milder conditions. During summer, the focus shifts to the Shu and Sun Luo acupoints, which lie atop the skin and muscles. For autumn conditions, in addition to the usual acupoints, the spring needlework techniques should be applied. Winter treatments involve the Jing or Shu acupoints, requiring deep needling and retention of the needle. These seasonal approaches are based on the flow of blood and energy, the location of pathogenic factors, and their interaction with the five zang organs, considering seasonal changes, meridian pathways, and flesh.

To treat muscle spasms, having the patient stand while needling certain points can immediately alleviate the cramping. In cases of atrophy or paralysis, having the patient stretch their limbs before needling will provide instant relief, allowing them to feel lighter and more flexible.