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The 12 Yuan Points – Classic Chinese Medicine & Optimal Acupuncture – smart health with Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Five Zang corresponds to the six Fu, there are twelve Yuan points associated with the five Zang. The 12 Yuan points are located on the four limbs (below the knee and elbow joints), they can be used to treat 5 Zang disease. These twelve Yuan points (which represent the 5 Zang) provide the Qi / Xue at 365 points. The 5 zang disease manifests at 12 yuan points. Since each Yuan point corresponds to a Zang, it is possible to know the disease of a Zang thanks to its associated Yuan point.
The lung is the Shaoyin among the Yang, its Yuan point is Taiyuan (P9) and there are two Taiyuan. The heart is Taiyang among the Yang, its Yuan point is Daling (Pc 7), and there are two Daling. The liver is the Shaoyang among the Yin, its Yuan point is Taichong (F3) and there are two Taichong. The spleen is the extreme Yin among the Yin, its Yuan point is Taibai (Rte3) and there are two Taibai. The kidney is Taiyin among the Yin, its Yuan point is Taixi (R 3) and there are two Taixi. The Yuan point of Gao is Jiuwei (Ren 15) and the Yuan point of Huang is Muyang (Ren 6). These 12 Yuan points can be used to treat five Zang and six fu diseases.
Ling Shu, chapter 1
We will start by noting that in chapter 1 of Ling Shu, the Shu points are approached first, then come the Yuan points:
Huangdi asked, "I would like to know the places where the breaths of the 5 organs and the 6 bowels come out."
Qibo replied: these are the five Shu points. Each of the 5 Zang has 5 Shu points, that is five times five which make twenty-five points (25 Shu points on each side of the body); each of the 6 fu has 6 Shu points (five Shu points plus one Yuan point), or six times six which make thirty-six points (36 Shu points on each side of the body). There are 12 meridian vessels (jingmai), 15 luo vessels (luomai), making a total of 27 paths of the upward and downward breath.
Ling Shu, chapter 1
This statement reveals not only the special relationship between the 5 Shu points and the Zang Fu, but also that the 5 Shu points are the only group of points used to treat Zang Fu dysfunction.
The 12 Yuan points are the “Shu-river” points of the 5 Shu points of the 5 Zang (on both sides), plus Jiuwei (Ren 15) and Muyang (Ren 6).
Each group of shu points represents its corresponding Zang or Fu and this includes the Yuan point which is the point of the shu-river among the 5 shu points of the Yin channels.
In other words, the function of the 12 Yuan points is contained in the function of the 5 Shu points. In this context, the 12 yuan points represent ALL the Shu points because the 5 Shu points and their respective Yuan points represent the Zang or Fu associated with them. The functions and indications of the Yuan points of the 6 yang channels are also included in those of the 5 shu points.
Huangdi asked: what is the use of the Yuan point of yang channels?
Qibo replied: the Yuan point does not correspond to the 5 seasons; its use is identical to that of the jing-river point.
Ling Shu, chapter 44
It is clear that the function and applications of the Yuan point of the Yang channels are identical to those of the jing-river point. Consequently, the 12 yuan points described in chapter 1 of Ling Shu should not be considered as a group of points distinct from the 5 Shu points.
In Su Wen, in chapter 58, all acupuncture points are classified into different groups, according to their functions; this is the only chapter in Su Wen that discusses the function of points. We can read that the number of points used to treat Zang dysfunctions is 50 (25 on each side of the body), and 72 to treat Fu (36 on each side of the body).
If we compare these two extracts, then it is clear that the 5 Shu points form the ONLY group of points which treat Zang Fu dysfunctions. This is one of the most important theories of Neijing on acupuncture points. Acupuncturists of future generations who understand this theory use ONLY these points to treat Zang Fu and not the Bei Shu points of the bladder canal or the anterior Mu points of the trunk…
But then we are entitled to question the usefulness of defining 12 Yuan points.
Where the breath comes out is the Jing point (well); where the breath flows is the Ying point; where the breath for, it is the point Shu; where the breath travels is the Yuan point; where the breath circulates, it is the Jing point (passage); where the breath comes in is the He point. These 27 breath paths pass (xing) all through the 5 shu points.
Ling Shu, chapter 1
Chapter 1 of Ling Shu first introduces the 5 Shu points and then states: “The function of the 27 meridians and collaterals depends on the 5 shu points” (who represent the Zang Fu). Ling Shu shows us here the importance of Zang Fu in the theory of meridians and collaterals.
The 12 Yuan points cited in Chapter 1 of Ling Shu represent the Heart, the Lung, the Liver, the Spleen and the Kidneys. The 5 Zang are considered to be the center of Zang Fu and Jing Luo theory.
The points Ren 6 and Ren 15 belong to Ren Mai. According to chapter 59 of Su Wen, the functions and indications of these points are linked to the dysfunctions of Ren Mai only and therefore cannot be linked to the treatment of Zang Fu. Nowhere else in the Huang Di Nei Jing is there any mention of these two points to deal with the 5 Zang. Therefore, the statement “12 yuan points can be used to treat 5 Zang 6 Fu diseases” does not include these two points.
The Yuan points of Gao and Huang have a different meaning. According to a famous classic historical text, a disease cannot be treated if it is between Gao and Huang, because neither acupuncture nor herbs can reach this region. The terms "Gao" and "Huang" indicate a very serious condition and are synonymous with a disease that is difficult to treat. However, the Yuan points of Gao and Huang are well listed among the Yuan points of Chapter 1 of Ling Shu. This simply reveals the fact that once the disease reaches the Zang, it is serious because it is difficult to treat. The 5 Shu points that can treat the diseases of the five Zang are therefore the most important points among the Shu points.
Su Wen, in Chapter 59, discusses the acupuncture points formed by Qi and Xue in the meridians. This chapter does not contradict the theory of 5 Shu points. As we know, the production and transport of Qi and Xue depend on the collaborative work of the Zang Fu. The Qi and Xue of the 5 Shu points therefore represent the function of Zang Fu. It is the physiological relationship between the 5 Shu points and the Zang Fu, as well as the establishment of the basic theory to regularize the functions of the viscera by the Shu points.
The 12 yuan points (which represent the 5 shu points) provide the qi / xue at 365 points.
Ling Shu, chapter 1
Yuan means source, the number 12 indicates the 12 meridians (which represent all the meridians and collaterals). The qi / xue of a point comes from its meridian and the qi / xue of the 12 meridians comes from Zang Fu. This is the right relationship between acupuncture points, meridians and Zang Fu.
There are 365 meeting points at the joints of the joints (jie). Whoever knows the basics can say it in one sentence, whoever does not know the basics completely loses all direction. What are called the joints (jie) are not the skin, the flesh, the tendons or the bones, but the places where go out and enter, walk and circulate the breath and the spirit.
Ling Shu, chapter 1
In Su Wen in chapter 58, it is written that "the 365 acupuncture points correspond to the 365 days of the year." However, the actual number of points referenced in the Nei Jing is 165 .
In the “Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion”, written in 250 AD. JC, there are 349 points, then in 1817, in "Source of acupuncture and moxibustion", there are 361 (which is still the reference number today).
The Neijing references all the important points, their functions, their applications, by classifying them in different categories: 5 Shu points, Xia-He points, Yuan points, Luo points, Bei Shu points, Water points and Fire points.
The other categories of points come from later works:
“Nanjing”: 8 opening points for extraordinary meridians
“Systematic classic of acupuncture and moxibustion”: Xi points, 5 Shu points of the Heart channel, cross points
“Canon of pulse diagnosis”: previous Mu points
“Prescription worth 1000 gold coins in an emergency”: extraordinary points and ashi points
“Canon of the acupuncture guide”: 8 meeting points
Yes "What are called the joints (jie) are not the skin, the flesh, the tendons or the bones, but the places where come out and enter, travel and circulate the breath and the spirit" so look for the acupuncture points in the spaces between the tissues, the San Jiao area.
Dr. Wáng Jū Yì 王 居 易 suggests that the San Jiao is actually made up of the fascias and the spaces they define, where bodily fluids circulate. Yuán qì circulates with these interstitial liquids.
The spaces of the San Jiao constitute the framework in which the canals are defined. For Dr. Wang, all the channels exist in the spaces of the San Jiao and follow the lines of tension, of pulls distributed along the collagen fibrils which constitute a large part of the tissue of the fascia.
The Nèi Jīng says that the San Jiao is the path of the yuán qì. The 66th difficulty of Nán Jīng says that yuán qì comes from the area where the qì is agitated located between the two kidneys, that it is diffused by the San Jiao and that the yuán points are associated with it.
According to Nan Jing, the yuan points are the points that allow the yu qì flowing in the San Jiao to join the circulation of the canals.
Most contemporary authors believe that the theory of the five shū-transport points (输) describes a progressive development of the qì of the channels towards the knees or the elbows (I do not agree with this interpretation of Ling Shu but this is another story) .
The yuan point is the third shū-transport point (输) on the yīn canals and the proximal point of the third shū-transport point (输) on the yáng meridians. This is where the qì flows (zhù 注) like a river and where the yuan points are located. Anatomically, these points are all located at the ankles or wrists which are constantly stressed joints and therefore guarantee an almost constant circulation during the day. These zones induce a significant “microcirculation” says Dr. Wang, very favorable to metabolic transformations. Yuán qì is in a way the catalyst for these transformations.
Still according to Dr. Wang, the stimulation of the yuan points should be gentle and the diffusion of the sensation of qì in the channel should be gradual.
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