“Access To The Depth”—Xue: The Point

  Acupuncture Points

The Western term “point” is called xue in China. This translates as “access,” “opening,” “hole,” or “cave,” which describes the access from the surface of the body to deeper structures. The acupuncture point is viewed as a point of access to the intricate channel system that connects the surface of the body with the internal organs. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture points are locations on the body that allow the correction of the imbalanced flow of qi. This restores the harmonious balance of the forces that affect the patient’s organism.

Acupuncture points can be verified bioelectrically (by virtue of measuring electrodermal activity) and on the tissue level.

The classical acupuncture points were examined in regard to their anatomical, histological, electrophysiological, neurophysiological, and humoral properties. Back in the 1960s, the professor of anatomy Keller (University of Vienna) analyzed 10000 histological serial sections and discovered that an acupuncture point contains 0.31 receptors (Meissner, Krause, and Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles) per mm² of skin preparation. Outside of the defined area of a point, 0.16 receptors per mm² were found. In 1987 the professor of anatomy and physiology H. Heine explained the function of the superficial fascia in regard to the acupuncture point. He found that in more than 80% of the classic acupuncture points the fascia is perforated by a neurovascular bundle of 3–9 mm thickness. In the area of perforation, the nerves are enveloped by at least two concentrically placed, thin-walled collagen cylinders that are filled with loose connective tissue. Electrophysiological research showed that when exposed to AC and DC current, acupuncture points are less resistant than “regular” areas of the skin. The increased conductivity at the acupuncture point is based on the high H₂O content of the mesenchymal sheath enveloping the perforating neurovascular bundle. Due to the rigid environment of its perforation location, the neurovascular bundle at the acupuncture point cannot give way to changes in pressure, volume, pull, and flow. Thus, in case of local, segmental, unilateral, or symmetrical regulatory disorders, the accompanying axons and the sympathetic vagomotor plexus in the artery walls are stimulated.

The acupuncture points constitute a window into the so-called basic regulating system. If an acupuncture point is continuously stimulated by nonphysiological means, superior neural centers are activated. The organism reacts by releasing pain peptides. While pain increases at the corresponding acupuncture points, the reflex arc intensifies. Acupuncture therapy enhances the central pain inhibition, which breaks the vicious circle of this chain reaction. According to research, acupuncture is able to counteract the imbalanced sympathetic nervous system and thus eliminate the potential risk of organ damage.

Of particular importance is the way that acupuncture points communicate among each other by way of the axonal reflex. The structure of the superficial fascia in relation to kinetically connected muscle groups seems to be most important to the order of the acupuncture points along the channels.

The de qui sensation (needle sensation, obtaining qi) can be induced at numerous acupuncture points. Thus, it is possible to regulate the disrupted flow of energy with corresponding manipulation techniques, using needles or moxa, at any acupuncture point. In addition, every acupuncture point is associated with a particular therapeutic purpose that has to be considered when choosing points. TCM acknowledges 13 categories of specific points and their effects that have been passed on through traditional teachings.

Of the 700 acupuncture points listed, 361 are located along the channels and the remaining ones are located away from the channels. It is a characteristic of the channel points that in case of a disease, several points on the same channel show changes in their reactivity. Points located away from the channels display changes individually or in separate groups. Also, when inserting the needle into a channel point, the typical needle sensation travels along the corresponding channel.

Characteristic for all acupuncture points is the detectable change (pressure and tactile sensation) in the tissue underneath, as a reaction to disease processes in remote parts of the body. These changes in reactivity patterns can be palpated as tissue changes in form of nodules, or the patient perceives changes as an altered pressure and touch sensation when the point is stimulated. Electronic point locators that are available on the market can also be used to identify acupuncture points. The locators work by detecting changes in skin resistance at the acupuncture points.

  Channel Points

1.  A local, regional, and segmental effect with a topographic relation to the seat of the disease (distant points, local points, points on the affected channel or network vessel)

2.  A channel-related functional effect (relating to the channel system, the energy of the body)

3.  An organ-related effect

4.  A point-specific symptomatic effect (symptomatic points).

Four Main Categories

The acupuncture points can be roughly divided into four main and several subcategories. Because this categorization can vary from author to author, some points can be found in multiple lists.

It is the function of the network (luo) point (luo = connect) to transfer excess channel energy to the connecting channels that provide connections to the coupled channel (a channel pair is always made of one yin and one yang channel) and thus assist in balancing energy.

The Five Transport Points

TCM’s concept of an energy flow that moves proximally starting at the extremities stems from the period before the channel system was used. The energy flow (qi) is compared with a river. The path of a stream from its well to the ocean is the metaphor for the growth pattern.

The energy originates at the well, first transport point (jing point; jing = well). All of the 11 jing points are located at the corner of the nail beds of the fingers or the toes (except the jing point of the kidney channel, which is located at the sole of the foot).

The water originating in the well turns into a spring. This is why the second transport point is called spring (ying) point. According to the traditional concept, the energy of a channel can be activated and accelerated from the spring transport points. The spring points are insignificant in daily practice.

The third transport point is the “stream point” (yuan point). The yuan point is also called source point. It is located at the wrist or the midfoot. The source point is the collection point for qi that is sent to the coupled channel and serves as the energy balance.

The jing point (“river point”) is the fourth transport point. It is located near or proximal to the wrist or ankle. The most important river points are SP-5, BL-60, and KI-7.