APPENDIX 3

COMMONLY USED ACUPOINTS

There are many useful texts delineating the use of acupuncture points (also known as acupoints). The interested reader is encouraged to investigate these points and study their applications. The following texts are recommended as sources of acupoint information:

The Foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia (London: Churchill Livingstone, 1989)

Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion edited by Cheng Xinnong (Beijing: Foreign Language Press, 1987)

The Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman and Maxin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker (East Sussex, England: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, 1998)

The points listed here are those we have found to be particularly effective in the treatment of patients in whom myofascial constriction is a reflection of organ or system dysfunction. Once a point is selected it should be treated through needling or direct pressure, in conjunction with the treatment of the myofascia.

Additionally, the treatment of local points—acupuncture points located within the affected region—used in conjunction with trigger point release methods can be quite useful to the overall healing of a patient suffering with pain due to myofascial dysfunction.

SOURCE POINTS/ORGAN POINTS

The acupoints listed here directly treat the given organ. Sensitivity in these points is often a reflection of dysfunction within the organ.

LU 9 for the lungs

CO 4 for the colon

ST 42 for the stomach

SP 3 for the spleen

HE 7 for the heart

SI 4 for the small intestine

BL 64 for the bladder

KI 3 for the kidneys

PC 7 for cardiovascular function

TW 4 for digestive function

GB 40 for the gallbladder

LIV 3 for the liver

HE/SEA POINTS

These acupoints support the relationship between the given organ and the superficial meridian.

LU 5 for the lungs

CO 11 for the colon

ST 36 for the stomach

SP 9 for the spleen

HE 3 for the heart

SI 8 for the small intestine

BL 40 for the bladder

KI 10 for the kidneys

PC 3 for cardiovascular function

TW 10 for digestive function

GB 34 for the gallbladder

LIV 8 for the liver

SUPPORT POINTS

We have found that certain local points, or acupoints located within the region of an organ or system, are useful to the healing of that organ.

LU 1 and 2 support respiration

ST 25 supports the abdomen and treats associated conditions such as those related to digestion and elimination

KI 16 supports the abdomen, kidneys, and pelvis and treats conditions and dysfunctions associated with these organs and regions

KI 21 through 27 support respiration

GB 26 and 27 support and open the pelvis and might be used to treat gynecological and eliminative dysfunctions

BL 23 supports the lower back and kidneys and treats associated conditions

CV 13 and 17 support the upper warmer

CV 12 supports the middle warmer

CV 6 and 10 support the lower warmer

CV 3 and 4 support the lower abdomen, including urinary function, and are used to treat gynecological dysfunction

Distal points, or acupoints located away from the region of an organ or system, are related to that region through the meridian and can be useful in the treatment of that organ or system.

LU 7 supports the head and neck

CO 4 calms and supports the system in general

ST 36 promotes general health and is used to treat abdominal constrictions

SP 6 supports the abdomen and pelvis and treats conditions associated with that region

SP 10 supports gynecological function

SP 21 is the universal luo, or balancing point, of all meridians and is used to support overall health

BL 57 supports and treats the lower back and urinary function

BL 62 supports circulation throughout the back

GB 41 supports the pelvis and treats conditions associated with constrictions within the pelvis