Acupuntura

JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 42 MAY 1993

FIVE SHU-POINTS
by Peter Deadman
The Five Shu-Points of the Yin Channels
Shu-Point
Heart (HE) Liver (LIV) Lung (LU) Spleen (SP)

THE

Pericardium (P)

Kidney (KID)

Phase

Shaoshang LU-11 Shaochong HE-9 Zhongchong P-9 Dadun LIV-1 Yongquan KID-1 Yinbai SP-1

Jing-Well Wood

Ying-Spring
Shaofu HE-8 Laogong P-8 Rangu KID-2 YujiLU-10 Dadu SP-2

Fire

The Five Shu-Points of the Yang Channels
Ying-Spring
Neiting ST-44 Xiaxi GB-43 Qiangu SI-2 Yemen SJ-2 Erjian L.I.-2

Large Intestine (L.I.) Small Intestine (SI) Gall Bladder (GB) Bladder (BL) Sanjiao (SJ) Stomach (ST)

Shu-Point
Phase

Shangyang L.I.-1 Zuqiaoyin GB-44 Guanchong SJ-1 Zhiyin BL-67 Lidui ST-45 Shaoze SI-1

Jing-Well
Metal

Xingjian LIV-2

Thereare many criteria that help determine the actions and indications of the acupuncture points. These include: i. The channel a point is located on (e.g. points of the Liver channel treat Liver disharmony). ii. Its related channels (e.g. points of Pericardium Jueyin channel may treat disorders of the Liver Jueyin channel; points of the Large Intestine channel may treat Lung disorders). iii. Itslocation on the body (e.g. all points on the chest have some effect on chest disorders). iv. Its status, for example as a Shu-Point, Xi-Cleft point, Back-Shu or Front-Mu point, Luo-Connecting, YuanSource or Hui point, Confluent Point of the 8 extraordinary channels or crossing point of more than one channel. v. Its associated Phase or Element. v. Empirical observations that have been collected on itsactions. This article confines itself to discussing the classical theories concerning the five Shu-Points, and compares these theories with the indications of the points that have accumulated over the centuries in a number of classical clinical manuals. By trying to understand this sometimes difficult theory, we can improve our knowledge and understanding of the extraordinary phenomena that arethe acupuncture points.

Zutonggu BL-66

Water

Taichong LIV-3

Shenmen HE-7

Taiyuan LU-9 Taibai SP-3 Daling P-7 Taixi KID-3

Shu-Stream Earth

Shu-Stream
Sanjian L.I.-3 Shugu BL-65 Houxi SI-3

The five Shu-Points, namely the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River and He-Sea points1, are an important grouping of acupuncture points of the twelve principal channels. All arelocated distal to, or at, the elbow and knee joints, and since the Qi flowing in these portions of the channels is passing through a particularly high rate of change in dynamic quality, the five ShuPoints play an important role in the formation of many acupuncture prescriptions. Also located on the portion of the channels distal to the elbows and knees are the XiCleft points, the Luo-Connectingpoints and the YuanSource points. On the Yin channels only, the YuanSource points are the same as the Shu-Stream points. Each of the five Shu-Points corresponds to one of the 5 phases (see Tables above). Historically, the naming of these points first appeared in the Spiritual Axis (Chapter: 'The Nine Needles and 12 Yuan'): Each of the five zang have five Shu, so in all there are twenty-five Shu. Eachof the six Fu have six Shu, so in all there are thirty-six Shu. There are twelve main channels and fifteen Luo channels - a total of twentyseven channels of Qi running up and down the body.
1. Literally: Jing = Well; Ying = Spring or Pool; Shu = to transport; Jing (same Jing as channel) = to pass through; He = to unite.

Zhongzhu SJ-3

Zulinqi GB-41

Xiangu ST-43

Wood

Zhongfeng LIV-4Shangqiu SP-5 Lingdao HE-4 Fuliu KID-7 Jianshi P-5

Jingqu LU-8

Jing-River Metal

Yinlingquan SP-9 Ququan LIV-8 Shaohai HE-3 Yingu KID-10 Quze P-3

Chize LU-5

He-Sea Water

Kunlun BL-60 Zhigou SJ-6

Yangxi L.I.-5 Yanggu SI-5 Jiexi ST-41

Jing-River
Fire

Yangfu GB-38

Yanglingquan GB-34

Weizhong BL-40 Tianjing SJ-10

Zusanli ST-36 Xiaohai SI-8

Quchi L.I.-11...