The Energetic Functions of Points Malvin Finkelstein, O.M.D., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H. Copyright © 1984 by Malvin Finkelstein Eugene Center for Acupuncture and Acupressure 2767 Friendly Street Eugene, Oregon 97 405 (541) 683-9230 All rights reserved ( For additional copies of this book, Please contact us at: http://www.mptclasses.com/purchase.htm or [email protected] Discounts available for orders over ten books.) i This book is dedicated to the ancient Taoists who began the understanding of energetics. ii Table of Contents Preface... .. Page iii Lung Meridian.................................................................................................. 1 Large Intestine Meridian............................................................................. 6 Stomach Meridian........................................................................................... 1 2 Spleen Meridian.............................................................................................. 2 5 Heart Meridian................................................................................................ 3 2 Small Intestine Meridian............................................................................ 3 4 Bladder Meridian........................................................................................... 3 7 Kidney Meridian............................................................................................ 5 2 Pericardium Meridian................................................................................. 5 7 Triple Warmer Meridian........................................................................... 6 1 Gall Bladder Meridian................................................................................ 6 5 Liver Meri di.an............................................................................................... 7 2 Governing Vessel Meridian..................................................................... 7 7 Conception Vessel Meridian................................................................... 8 4 Extra Points................................................................................................... 9 5 Bibliography................................................................................................. 9 7 111 Preface I hope that this book will prove useful to students and practitioners of acupuncture. It is a compilation of information on the points of acupuncture that to my knowledge has not been put "under one roof" before. Much of the material was painstakingly researched from the disease sections of the major textbooks. Great amounts of additional material was added as the exchange and translation of information from China has expanded in the past several years. To the uninitiated in the language of Chinese Medicine, much of the language herein will seem strange, stilted or archaic (not to mention ungrammatical). I find that the images evoked by the language are very useful for both my own visualization of the actual energetics of the point as well as guiding and teaching my patients. The information on point combinations is intended to elucidate the difference between using similar points to produce differing effects. Some of this information is redundant or contradictory. I think that an apt analogy for this is to firstly perceive the effect of four legs for supporting a table. Which of the legs supports most of the weight? Which one, if any will cause the table to tilt and fall? So it is with points. Their combined effect is difficult to measure but I think one can gain an improved understanding of their relationships from this section. I would like to thank my teachers - Dr. James Tin Yao So, Ted Kaptchuk, Robert Banever, Iona Marsaa, Ron Teeguar-den, Michael Gach and Drs. Xi Yong Jiang, Liu Yan and Liu Guo Yuan of Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the inspiration and knowledge that led to the creation of this book. Indispensable to this task have been the tireless efforts of Linda Jencson, typist and translator of my scrawls. All this would have not been possible without the acceptance and nurturance provided me by Gulistan Machacek. In closing, I'd like to add my wish that this book, in some small way, adds to the increasing health of humankind and to our continued evolvement. May 1, 1984 - Eugene, Oregon Malvin Finkelstein 1 Lung Me~idie.n Ll Zhongfu Central Palace -alarm point of lungs entry point Here, lung energy emerges to the surface of the body. Upper burner energy travels from the cardia of the stomach, through the diaphragm, traverses the chest, travels through the axilla and L2 and Ll, enters the large intestine mer­ idian, travels through CV17 and LI18 to the tongue and then down the body via the stomach channel. 1) cools and disperses heat and yang_from the upper warmer, chest and lungs 2) disperses stuck qi or phlegm 3) eliminates fullness and stuffiness in chest 4) regulates qi of upper warmer and lungs 5) builds yin {empty lung yin) 6) clears and opens the meridian and draws energy into the lung meridian {dispersed) 7) aids release of old emotions {disperse) 8) increases energy and stamina {disperse, then reinforce) with Bl7 - leads the blood to return into the meridians {he­ moptysis) with Bl3 - regulates and adjusts the qi in lungs and respir­ atory tract with St27, Stl2 and Bl2 - disperses excess heat in chest re­ gion with L9 - increases respiratory power with 12 - treats upper warmer L2 Yu.men Cloud's Door -1) regulates lung 2) dissolves sputum 3) removes depressed qi of chest with Ll - treats upper warmer L3 Tianfu Heaven's Palace -window of the sky point 1) removes obstructions of the rising energy flow {opens a large "window of the sky") and reestablishes the circula­ tion between the liver (last energy) and the lungs {first energy) to treat liver/lung disharmonies 2) relieves lung excess 3) increases oxygen to head 4) supervises the energy with Pl (supervise the blood) - to supervise energy and blcrod L4 Xiabai Gallant White -1) relieves heart of excess heat and obstruction (L3 is more effective) 2) regulates flow of channel for local indications 2 Lung (2) L5 Chize Foot Marsh -ho - sea point, water point dispersing point 1) opens and clearsthe lungs 2) drains, cools and extinguishes heat and fire in the lungs and treats hot cough 3) stops bleeding (hemoptysis) 4) lowers rebellious qi of lungs to calm wheezing and soothe asthma 5) expels wind, opens the channels, and frees the tendons 6) sedates lung excess 7) tonifies essential energy of the lungs 8) benefits bladder and kidney (L5 is water point) 9) cools fever (bleeding) with L7 - spreads lung qi to treat cough and hemoptysis with L9 - clears heat, facilitates qi to stop cough and soothe asthma, and benefits skin (abcesses) with LlO - clears heat of lungs (reducing) with Bl3 - clears lungs, reduces heat and stops cough with L6, LI4 - treats hemoptysis with Lll, B54 - treats continuous fever (bleed) with GV26, Lll - reduces summer heat and opens orifices (bleed) L6 Kongzui Supreme Hole -xi-cleft point 1) opens and adjusts the lungs 2) opens the exterior to open the pores, provoke perspiration and strengthen skin energy 3} cools heat and disperses fire from lungs 4) regulates and supresses rebellious lung qi and calms wheezing 5) stops bleeding (hemoptysis) 6) clears and cools the throat 7) dissolves and relieves hemorrhoids (esp. bleeding) 8) opens the channels and releases blocked energy of arm and throat 9) benefits essential energy to help reestablish digestion 10) treats hot or cold cough 11) can use in conjunction with other lung points to balance ex- cess or deficiency with Bl7 - treats expectoration of blood (hemoptysis) with L5, LI4 - treats hemoptysis with L5, Bl3 - clears and cools the throat and stops bleed­ ing (hemoptysis) with Sp3 - relieves hemorrhoids with Bl3, GV14, St36 - replenishes lungs and disperses nox­ ious factors 3 Lung (3) L7 Lieque Broken Sequence -lo point, exit point master point of conception vessel coupled point of yin heel vessel (yin qiao mo) takes ancestral energy back to the lung organ that has not been absorbed by the yang ming and therefore ensures the energy feedback into the kidneys (metal to water) 1) opens the lungs 2) circulates and spreads lung qi and calms wheezing 3) expels wind and disperses the exterior 4) promotes perspiration 5) increases diuresis (descends lung qi, makes turbid qi des­ cend) 6) controls fluids (lung edema) 7) regulates and moves the conception vessel and benefits uro­ genital function 8) stimulates essential energy 9) tonifies yang ming (large intestine, stomach) 10) benefits nose, throat and ears 11) brings out phlegm and mucus 12) accelerates circulation of yin energy 13) affects release of sexual hormones 14) transforms yin and yang (lo point) with LI4 - removes wind and cold; removes obstruction of lung qi to facilitate diaphoresis (sweats); cools lungs; sedates lung excess and treats upper body edema with K6 - (2 of 8 confluent points) - nourishes yin, induces deficient fire downwards, clears lungs, eases the throat, removes obstruction of pharynx and larynx, and stops cough with 19 - spreads lung qi and stops cough with 15 - spreads and regulates lung qi to treat cough and hemoptysis with B13 - clears heat of lungs (reducing) with Spg - regulates the fluid system with T5 - disperses the exterior with G20, T5 - disperses exterior cold L8 Jingqu Meridian Gutter -jing - river point, metal point, horary point 1) reactivates circulation of lungs and circulation of stomach 2) neutralizes