Acupuncture Theory

Methods of Combining Points

Basically, combine points with similar action to increase effect.

1. According to area or region

a) combine upper and lower parts of body points. i.e. Disease on upper body – choose lower body points i.e. Disease on head – choose foot points. i.e. Disease on feet – choose knee points.

b) front and back Can be used for any disorder, i.e. eye tearing – Stomach 1 and Gall bladder 20 or SJ 17, stomachache – Ren 12, Stomach 21 and Bladder 21, Du 8

c) left and right side Choose right side to treat left and vice versa. Commonly used for paralysis and hemiplagia.

d) 3 parts together i.e. effected area, proximal, and distal.

2. According toMeridian

a) same meridian If not excess or deficiency then choose element point, otherwise choose appropriate points along meridian.

b) External/Internal meridian relationships Yin treats Yang and vice versa, i.e. angina – Pericardium 6, SJ 5, stomachache – Stomach 21,36, Spleen 4

c) Meridian with same name Hand and foot Shaoyang (San Jiao and Gallbladder), these have same amount of Qi and blood. i.e. occipital headache – Small Intestine 3, Bladder 60 frontal headache – Large Intestine 4, Stomach 44 temporal (migrane) – SJ 6, Gall bladder 34, 20, 8

d) Mother-Son Meridian Relationships deficiency – strengthen Mother: excess – sedate Son i.e. Lung deficiency – strengthen Spleen

e) meeting meridian points i.e. migrane – Gall bladder 8, 20 (same area), and Stomach 8 (meridians meet on head).