Number of points in a prescription

Diseases vary in their occurrence and development. Different prescriptions are used according to the different individuals and diseases. It is stated in Chapter 74 of Plain Questions that " diseases may appear in severity or mildness, treatment should be given according to individual conditions, and prescriptions maybe large or small. " In Chapter 59 of Miraculous Pivot it says that " diseases are changeable, thus there are countless methods of treatment to be considered by reference to the condition. A mild case should be treated by selecting a few points, while a severe case treated by selecting many points. "

Generally, there are five acupuncture prescriptions according to the number of points selected. They are :

• Big prescription. The big prescription refers to the selection of a great number of points, and is applied to a wide range of disorders in the zang - fu organs, meridians and collaterals. For instance, a prescription for hemiplegia caused by windstroke and epilepsy are often treated by selection of a large number of points.
• Small prescription. A small prescription refers to the selection of less points and is widely used in common ailments, such as malaria and epigastric pain.
• Odd prescription. " Odd prescription " indicates only a point is used. For instance, Ximen ( P 4 ) is prescribed to treat cardiac pain. Shuigou ( Du 26 ) is for pain in the back and lumbar region.
• Even prescription. Even prescription means a pair of points selected, e.g. the combination of Back - ( Shu ) Point with Front - ( Mu ) Point, Yuan - ( Primary ) Point with Luo - ( Connecting ) Point, and points in the upper part with the Eight Confluent Points in the lower part of the body.
• Compound prescription. A compound prescription refers to the application of two or more than two groups of points with different functions for complicated cases which have two or over two symptoms simultaneously. For instance, when headache appears at the same time with diarrhea, the prescriptions for both should be used.

Selection of points along the course of meridians is the basic principle in acupuncture treatment, which is performed according to the theory of that diseases are related to meridians. In application there are three methods of point selection, namely, selecting points from the affected meridian, selecting points from the related meridian, and selecting points from several meridians. The first refers to a selection of points on the diseased meridian to which one of the organs is related. The second refers to a selection of points not only from the affected meridian, but also from the meridian related to the affected meridian according to the relations between the £ang - fu organs and meridians. Generally, points of the exteriorly - interiorly related meridians or points of the " mother - son " related meridians are selected according to the theory of Five Elements. The third is used for symptoms caused by several diseased meridians, i.e. when a patient does not respond to the selected points of one or two meridians, points of other meridians should be used too. Since point selection along the meridians is guided by the theory of the zang - fu organs and meridians it is essential to have a full understanding of physiology and pathology, the running course of the meridians, the exterior and interior relationship of yin and yang and the function of points.