(c) Copyright: These prescriptions may not be published or used for commercial purposes in any form without written permission from the author. However, colleagues may use them for personal, clinical or research purposes, as they may wish.

Acupuncture Formulas: Top Ten Points for Common Conditions - Appendix 1
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From the Web Pages of Phil Rogers MRCVS
Lucan, Dublin, Ireland [Fax: 353-46-26154; Tel: 353-46-26740 (lab)]

Please CLICK HERE to report errors or incorrect links, or e-mail the author

 

Point convention used in the computer outputs
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The Channel Points of human acupuncture are coded as follows:

LU
Lung		 LI
Large Intestine or colon		 ST
Stomach		 SP
Spleen -Pancreas		 HT
Heart		 SI
Small Intestine		 BL*
Bladder		 KI
Kidney		 PC**
Pericardium		 TH
Triple Heater / Endocrine		 GB
Gallbladder		 LV
Liver

GV
Governing Vessel (Dumai, dorsal midline)

CV
Conception Vessel (Renmai, ventral midline)

* with BL40=Weizhong; ** also called Heart Constrictor, or Circulation-Sex

Note: IVAS uses Liv for Liver (Rogers uses LV. This is to keep all points with 2-alpha, 2-numeric codes, for example LV03-Taichong, or X_35-Huatojiaji).

Other authors may use different conventions. In this system, the second branch of the BL Channel has BL41 (Fufen) at the scapular area (below T2), & BL40 (Weizhong) at the popliteal crease. The ST Channel has ST01 (Chengqi) infraorbital & ST08 (Touwei) on the meeting of the vertical & the horizontal hairline on the forehead.

Channel Code

LU

LI

ST

SP

HT

SI

BL

KI

PC

TH

GB

LV*

CV

GV

No. of points

11

20

45

21

9

19

67

27

9

23

44

14

24

28

 

New (NZ, NY, NX, NA, NL), Strange (Z, Y, X, A, L) & Hand (H) Points
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These points are ordered as in the "Newest Illustrations of the AP points" (Med. & Health Publishers, Hong Kong, 1973):

Rogers'
Code

Strange Points
Location

Rogers'
Code

New Points
Location

Rogers'
Code

Hand Points
Location

Z_01-31

Head & Neck

NZ01-35

Head & Neck

H_01-18

Hand

Y_01-19

Thorax & Abdomen

NY01-06

Abdomen

    

X_01-35

Loin & Back

NX01-18

Loin & Back

    

A_01-44

Upper Limb

NA01-15

Upper Limb

    

L_01-42

Lower Limb

NL01-36

Lower Limb

    

 

Category OT (Other) point codes
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These are personal codes for: 01=AhShi; 02=TianYing; 03=Segmental nerve; 04=Haemorrhoid point; 05=Local points for region; 06=Distant points for region; 07=points on Channel through area; 08=Periosteal AP; 09=Periincisional points; 10=Chieh Kou (Cut ends)

The total number of points (Channel, New, Strange etc + Trigger Points) in the database is 670.

Twelve Basic Laws of Point Selection
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Successful acutherapy depends on the selection of effective points. There is very wide scope for individuality & creativity in point selection; very few Masters select exactly the same combination of points in any given case, but all Masters observe one, or several, of the following "Laws":

1

 You will NOT NEED this Cookbook if you thoroughly know TCM theory & the uses & combinations of the Antique & Master Acupoints! Masters usually treat the root causes / main contradiction of the Qi-Xue-Ye imbalance by:

Eight Principles		  
Excess/Deficient, Hot/Cold, Ext/Int, Yang/Yin

Six Levels		  
Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Taiyin, Jueyin, Shaoyin

Six Level Variant (Mirror Technique)		  
left TH14 for problem near right GB30 ( Shaoyang at shoulder & hip)
left KI10 for problem near right HT03 (Shaoyin at knee & elbow)
right LI105 for problem near left ST41 (Yangming at wrist & ankle)
right SP01 for problem near left LU11 (Taiyin at big toe & thumb)
etc

Five Phase Theory		  
Sheng-Mother Point to Supply
Sheng Son Point to Drain
Ko Grandmother Point to Bring Control (Tonify to Disperse; Disperse to Tonify)
etc

Specific Points for Specific TCM Syndromes		  
See "Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine" (Wiseman & Feng, 1998, Paradigm Publications, Brookline, Mass, USA, 945pp)


Traditional Symptomatic Points

etc

  
Add 1-2 points for the affected organ(s)/part(s), or more serious symptoms

2

 Points according to the innervation or in same dermatome as the problem area or function. (The paravertebral & Huatojiaji (X_35) points are especially important).

3

 AhShi (tender) points (trigger, myalgic, fibrositic, motor, REPP points).

4

 Local points or points locally on nearest Channels.

5

 Distant points on Channels controlling problem area.

6

 Combine local & distant points or Yin & Yang points
(e.g. the YUAN (Source) point of the problem part/organ/Channel & the LUO (Passage) point of its linked Channel).

7

 Points "Fore & Aft", "Above & Below", "Left & Right", "Circling the Dragon" (encircling the problem area).

8

 Extra-Channel Points well known for their symptomatic effects:
Taiyang-Z09 in head/eye problems; Dingchuan-Soothing Asthma; Lanwei-Appendix; Zigongxue-Uterus; Huatojiaji-X_35 Points, etc.

9

 Back & Abdomen combination: SHU (BL Reflex) + MU (Front Alarm) or points near the SHU & MU.

10

 XI (Cleft) point of affected organ/Channel in acute diseases.

11

 Scar / neural therapy to improve electrical conductivity of scars & soft tissue injury by needling, injection, laser, physiotherapy etc.

12

 Tianying point - under the ulcer base, into the cyst etc.

!! Always seek the Ashi (tender) points, especially Trigger Points!!

Final selection of points from this index
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Experienced acutherapists seldom work with fixed point selections. At a given session, they treat what they see, or feel, or sense, at that time. In later sessions, they may vary, or alternate the points. Frequent overuse of a point may create scarring, or reduce its efficacy for subsequent use.

If you use this "Cookbook" in your selection of points, be aware of the following:

1 High point scores (ratings), with multiple authors, indicate the most commonly used (important?) points. If the first point listed has a score <.40, this indicates poor agreement between authors & may indicate a prescription of doubtful value.
2 The first 4-6 points in each prescription list are the most frequently cited points. Additional points may be added from those remaining, if other symptoms indicate a need for them.
3 Prescriptions with <2 authors, or with little variation in point scores, may be of doubtful value !!
4 The most common prescription for local or organ problems is: local points + AhShi points + distant points.
5 When needling, always provoke Deqi (needle sensation). Expect poor results if poor needle sensation is reported !!
6 The number of needles per session should normally be <12 (use as few as possible).
7 Alternate prescriptions if in doubt or if result is not satisfactory after 1-2 sessions.
8 Research workers seeking "non-active" points for "placebo" or "control" groups of subjects should not use any point listed in these prescriptions. As "active" points, they should consider points in the Top Ten of each list.

!! Always seek the Ashi (tender) points, especially Trigger Points!!

Structure of the Point Index for body organs, parts & functions
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The common formulas in Appendix 2 are sorted by their codings (Lesion Codes) to follow a regional sequence as follows:

Lesion
Code

 Body function or area

Lesion
Code

 Body function or area

01xxxx

 Emergencies/First Aid

06xxxx

 Abdomen, its organs & functions

02xxxx

 Head, its organs/functions

07xxxx

 Pelvic limb

03xxxx

 Neck, thyroid

08xxxx

 Skin & hair

04xxxx

 Thoracic limb

09xxxx

 General, immunity

05xxxx

 Thorax, its organs/functions    

For example, the sacral area is in the sequence 06xxxx (Abdomen) and the heart area is in the sequence 05xxxx (Thorax).

Headings of the Points' Index in Appendix 2
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In the headings below, entries with a star* are new data from a recent review of Acupuncture in Genitourinary & related Conditions

Lesion code Affected region, part, sign, condition or symptom Lesion code Affected region, part, sign, condition or symptom
010100 Emergencies 060500 Gastrointestinal tract
010200 First aid 060503 Indigestion, inappetance, nausea, vomiting
020100 Psyche & mental disorders 060542 Pain, colic, spasm in abdomen or its organs, peritonitis
020200 Addictions 060543 Diarrhoea, dysentery, constipation
020300 Brain, its functions & parts, meninges, polio, convulsions 060600 Stomach & duodenum
020323 Memory: loss of; amnesia; forgetful 060700 Small intestine, appendix, caecum, colon, rectum
020349 Brain, meninges 060752 Anus, tenesmus, prolapse, piles
020350 CVA, polio, paralysis, hemiplegia 060753 Inguinal area, groin
020351 Convulsions, epilepsy, tetanus, tremor 060754 Perineum
020353 Spinal cord 060754* Perineum*
020400 Head, forehead, vertex, occiput, temple, headaches 060755 Male & female external genitalia & pubic area
020433 Forehead, frontal sinuses 060800 Urogenital (general conditions)
020434 Vertex 060900 Urinary tract & functions
020435 Occiput 060900a* Urinary disorders*
020436 Temple 060900b* Urinary incontinence, or retention*
020500 Face, cheek 061000 Genitalia female & reproduction
020600 Eye, eyelid, vision etc 061000a* gynaecology, obstetrics, mammology*
020700 Nose, nostril, nasal sinuses, olfaction 061000b* Female infertility, functional sterility*
020800 Throat, pharynx, larynx, tonsil, voice 061000c* ovary & PID*
020900 Ear, hearing, Menieres disease, eustacian tube, mastoid etc 061000d* uterus & cervix*
021000 Lip, oral muscles 061000e* clitoris, vagina & vulva*
021014 Mouth 061000f* Amenorrhoea, oligoamenorrhoea & delayed menarche*
021100 Tooth, gum 061000g* Anovulation*
021124 Tooth, upper 061000h* Leucorrhoea, leukorrhagia, gonorrhoea*
021125 Tooth, lower 061100 Pregnancy: conditions of
021200 Tongue, speech 061101 Pregnancy: forbidden/abortion points; may induce miscarriage
021222 Saliva, salivary glands etc 061125 Parturition
021300 Maxilla 061125a* before, during & after parturition or abortion*
021313 Chin 061126 Postpartum conditions
021315 Mandible 061200 Mammary female
021316 Temporomandibular joint, masseter 061200a* Mastopathy, mammary disorders, milk disorders*
021317 Maxilla, mandible 061300 Menstrual cycle, contraception
030000 Neck & cervical spine 061300*a Menstruation*
030129 Thyroid, parathyroid 061300*b Dysmenorrhoea & menorrhalgia*
040000 Thoracic limb, its organs & functions 061316 Menopause: general points for flushes & menopausal problems
040200 Shoulder, scapula, clavicle 061316* menopause & climacteric*
040300 Axilla 061400 Reproduction male (impotence, spermatorrhoea etc )
040400 Arm, humerus 061400a* Andropathies*
040500 Elbow 061400b* Male infertility, spermatopathy, abnormalities of sperm count or quality*
040600 Forearm, radius, ulna 061500 Genitalia male
040700 Wrist, carpus 061500c* Testicle*
040800 Hand, palm 061500d* Ejaculation*
040900 Finger 061500e* Prostate*
050000 Thorax & back, its organs & functions 061500f* Penis, urethra, sex drive, male impotence, erectile dysfunction*
050001 Thorax, chest, ribs, sternum 070000 Pelvic limb, its organs & functions
050002 Thoracic spine, back area 070200 Buttock
050200 Heart, pericardium 070239 Hip
050228 Circulation, blood pressure 070240 Thigh, femur
050229 Arteries, veins, arteriosclerosis, ischaemia 070300 Knee, popliteal
050300 Oedema, fluid retention, ascites 070315 Patella
050400 Blood, body defences, haemorrhage, thymus etc 070400 Leg, calf
050500 Respiratory system (trachea, bronchi, lung, cough, etc 070417 Tibia, fibula
050541 Pleura 070429 Achilles area, heel
050543 Trachea 070500 Ankle, tarsus
050544 Bronchi, lung, pneumonia, asthma 070503 Tarsal-metatarsal
050545 Cough general 070600 Metatarsal, foot
050600 Oesophagus 070608 Toe
050700 Diaphragm 080000 Skin
060000 Abdomen & back, its organs & functions 080124 Hair, skin: alopecia; baldness; hairloss; oppilation
060000* Abdominal Disorders* 090100 Fevers
060141 Abdomen upper, epigastric, hypochondriac area 090101 Chills
060142 Abdomen middle, periumbilical area 090200 Sweating problems
060143 Abdomen lower 090300 Infections: malaria, TB, cholera, typhoid, typhus, herpes, etc
060200 Dorsolumbar/thoracolumbar spine & area 090400 Immunity
060228 Coccygeal area 090410 Tonic effects
060231 Lowback (lumbosacral, renal, sacroiliac, lumbar, sacral) 090419 Gangrene, ischaemia of extremities
060231* Lowback, lumbar, sacral & pelvic area disorders* 090420 Lymphadenopathy
060232 Waist, flank area 090421 Allergy [lungs, skin, gut, vasomotor etc - all sources]
060300 Liver (inflammation, calculi, jaundice, acetonaemia etc) 090421a Allergy & allergic shock - all sources [see above; add from here in nose, head & gut problems]
060323 Gallbladder, bileducts (inflammation, calculi, obstruction) 090500 Bones, joints (general)
060400 Spleen 090600 Muscle, tendon, soft tissues (general)
060410 Pancreas, diabetes mellitus, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia 090700 Analgesia, pain control (general)
Goto 060500 Goto 060500    

*Entries with a star are new data from a recent review of Acupuncture in Genitourinary & related Conditions

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