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The Five Shu PointsThese are five points of the twelve regular meridians located below the elbow and knee, namely, Jing - ( Well ) , Ying - ( Spring ) , Shu - ( Stream ) , Jing - ( River ) and He - ( Sea ) . They are imaged by the ancients as the flowing water, representing the volume of qi in the meridians. They are located in an order from below to above and the qi in them increases one by one. It is described in the first chapter of Miraculous Pivot, " The points at which qi springs up are called well points ; the points where qi flows copiously are called spring points ; the points where qi flows like a stream are called stream points ; the points where qi flows through are called river points ; and the points where qi gathers are called sea points. " The sixty - eight problem in Classic on Medical Problems says that " Jing - ( Well ) Points are indicated in the fullness of the chest ; Ying - ( Spring ) Points in the febrile diseases ; Shu - ( Stream ) Points in the heavy sensation of the body and painful joints ; Jing - ( River ) Points in cough and asthma due to pathogenic cold and heat ; and He - ( Sea ) Points in diarrhea due to perversive flow of qi. " Generally speaking, Jing - ( Well ) Points are indicated in mental illness related to the zang organs ; Ying - ( Spring ) ; Shu - ( Stream ) and Jing - ( River ) Points are indicated in disorders along the outer course of the affected meridians. Points on the yin meridians are indicated in the disorders of the internal organs. The He - ( Sea ) Points are indicated in problems related to the fu organs, the Lower He - ( Sea ) Points are taken as the main points. The Combination of Mother and Son Points for Reinforcing and Reducing In addition to the selection of the Five Shu Points according to their therapeutic properties, the Five Shu Points can be selected according to the interpromoting, interacting, overacting and counteracting relations of the Five Elements to which they are respectively attributed. The Jing - ( Well ) , Ying - ( Spring ) , Shu - ( Stream ) , Jing - ( River ) and He - ( Sea ) Points of the yin meridians are attributed to the Five Elements in the order of wood, fire, earth, metal and water, but those of the yang meridians in the order of metal, water, wood, fire and earth. Based on the interpromoting relation of the Five Elements, each meridian has a " mother " point and a " son " point. For instance, the Lung Meridian relates to metal, the " mother " of metal is earth, then the " mother point " of the Lung Meridian is Taiyuan ( L9 ) which attributes to earth. The " son " of metal is water, so the " son point " of the Lung Meridian is Chize ( L5 ) which attributes to water. The " mother point " of a meridian has a reinforcing effect, while the " son point " has a reducing effect. Reinforce the mother for deficiency syndrome and reduce the son for excess syndrome when this principle is applied for treatment, but differentiation of syndromes should be done to see the affected meridian and organ, as well as the presentation of excess and deficiency before the selection of points. In practice the two methods are used : reinforcing or reducing the affected meridian and reinforcing or reducing the related meridian. Reinforcing or reducing the affected meridian : For example, when the Lung Meridian is involved in a deficiency syndrome with symptoms of chronic cough, asthma on exertion, weak voice, profuse sweating and thready weak pulse, the " mother point " of the Lung Meridian Taiyuan ( L9 ) is used with the reinforcing method. ( Taiyuan attributes to earth. The lung pertains to metal, which is promoted by earth, so Taiyuan is the mother point of the Lung Meridian. ) When the Lung Meridian is involved in an excess syndrome with abrupt onset of cough, dyspnea, coarse voice, stuffy sensation in the chest, failure to lie flat, and superficial slippery forceful pulse, Chize ( L5 ) , the " son point " of the Lung Meridian is used with the reducing method. Chize attributes to water, which is promoted by metal, so Chize is the son point of the Lung Meridian. Reinforcing or reducing the related meridian : Reinforcing or reducing the related meridian is applied on the basis of the relations of the Five Elements of the zang - fu organs. For example, the deficiency syndromes of the Lung Meridian can be treated by reinforcing Taibai ( Sp3 ) . the earth point of the Spleen Meridian, which relates to the Lung Meridian ( the spleen pertains to earth ; the lung pertains to metal, which is promoted by earth ) . In contrast, the excess syndrome of the Lung Meridian can be treated by reducing Yingu ( K10 ) , the water point of the Kidney Meridian, which relates to the Lung Meridian. ( The kidney pertains to water, the lung pertains to metal, which promotes water. ) In addition, the mother and son points can be selected from the exteriorly - interiorly related meridians. For example, the deficiency syndrome of the Lung Meridian can be treated by reinforcing Quchi ( Li11 ) , the mother point of the Large Intestine Meridian, but the excess syndrome of the Lung Meridian can be treated by reducing Erjian ( Li2 ) , the son point of the Large Intestine Meridian. ( The large intestine pertains to metal. Erjian attributes to water, which is promoted by metal. ) The Five Shu Points of the Yin Meridians
The Five Shu Points of the Yin Meridians
The " Mother " and " Son " Points for Reinforcing and Reducing Meridian Mother Point ( Reinforcing ) Son Point ( Reducing )
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