AcuPoint combinations in clinical use

This section provides a basic set of acupoints along with their primary TCM actions that could be used to manage a patient’s condition.

These example acupoint combinations can be adapted as needed with the inclusion or removal of acupoints as dictated by the client’s presenting symptoms and their mapping into a TCM theory framework.

• In traditional acupuncture we use the proportional cun measurement to locate acupoints.

Acid Reflux (Heartburn)

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing acid reflux and heartburn:

• Stomach 44.
• Stomach 41.
• Pericardium 6.
• Ren 12.

Acne and Eczema

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing acne and eczema:

• Spleen 4.
• Gall Bladder 34.
• Spleen 10.
• Large Intestine 11.

Allergies

The following acupuncture point combination may help to manage air borne allergies:

• Kidney 7.
• Lung 9.
• Stomach 36.
• Large Intestine 20.

Ankle Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing ankle pain:

• Stomach 41.
• Spleen 5.
• Gall Bladder 40.
• Bladder 60.

Anxiety

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing generalised anxiety:

• Liver 3.
• Ren 12.
• Heart 7.
• Yintang.
• Du 20.

Arthritic Hands

The following Extra acupuncture points can be helpful in improving the flexibility and grip of the hand joints when treating cases of osteoarthritis of the hand:

• Baxie points.
• Shang Baxie points.

Asthma

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing asthma:

• Lung 1.
• Lung 9.
• Stomach 40.
• Kidney 7.

Blocked Sinuses

The following point combination may help with managing blocked sinuses:

• Large Intestine 20.
• Small Intestine 18.
• Yintang.
• Lung 7.
• Stomach 40.

Boost the immune system and strengthen the body

This set of points help boost Wei-Qi which in TCM helps to protects us from external causes of disease. Wei-Qi in TCM is analogous to the immune system.

The points used are:

• Kidney 7.
• Stomach 36.
• Lung 9.
• Lung 7.
• Large Intestine 10.

Disrupted Sleep

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing disrupted sleep:

• Liver 3.
• Gall Bladder 34.
• Pericardium 7.
• Heart 7.
• Yintang.
• Anmian.

Elbow Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing elbow pain (e.g. tennis elbow, golfers elbow etc.):

• Large Intestine 11.
• Lung 5.
• Large Intestine 10.
• Heart 3.

Erectile Dysfunction

The following acupuncture point combination may help with treating erectile dysfunction:

• Ren 4.
• Kidney 3.
• Stomach 36.
• Small Intestine 3 (right) and Bladder 62 (left) to open the Du Mai.
• Spleen 4 (right) and Pericardium 6 (left) to open the Chong Mai.

A patient could also apply acupressure for two to three minutes a day on Ren 4 which may also help.

Fatigue and Tiredness

The following acupuncture point combination may help in managing Chronic Fatigue or Tiredness:

• Kidney 7.
• Stomach 36.
• Lung 9.
• Large Intestine 10.

Female fertility

The following acupuncture point combination may help with supporting female fertility:

• Ren 3.
• Ren 4.
• Ren 6.
• Zigong.
• Spleen 6.
• Stomach 36.
• Kidney 3.
• Spleen 4 (right) and Pericardium 6 (left) to open the Chong Mai.

A patient could also apply acupressure for two to three minutes a day on Zigong which may also help.

Hand Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing hand pain:

• Large Intestine 4 (note this point is contraindicated in pregnancy).
• Small Intestine 3.
• Small Intestine 4.
• Shang Baxie.

Headaches and Migraines

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing headaches and migraines:

• Liver 3.
• Gall Bladder 41.
• San Jiao 5.
• Gall Bladder 20.
• Du 20.

Hip Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing hip pain:

• Gall Bladder 30.
• Gall Bladder 31.
• Bladder 36.
• Bladder 37.

Hot Flushes

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing hot flushes:

• Liver 3.
• Kidney 7.
• Spleen 6.
• Heart 6.
• Large Intestine 11.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

• Liver 3.
• Lanweixue.
• Stomach 37.
• Spleen 15.
• Stomach 25.

Jaw Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may be helpful in managing jaw pain:

• Stomach 6.
• Stomach 7.
• San Jiao 17.
• Small Intestine 18.

Knee Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing knee pain and stiffness:

• Stomach 34.
• Xiyan.
• Kidney 10.
• Spleen 9.
• Gall Bladder 34.

Lower Back Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing lower back pain:

• The Extra Huato points at L2, L3, L4 and L5.
• The Extra point YaoYan.
• Bladder 23.

Low Mood

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing low mood:

• Spleen 3.
• Stomach 40.
• Heart 7.
• Du 20 (in a forward direction).

Neck Pain

The following combination of acupuncture points may help with managing neck pain and stiffness:

• Gall Bladder 20.
• Du 16.
• Gall Bladder 21 (note this point is contraindicated in pregnancy).
• Bladder 10.

Recurrent Colds or Flu

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing recurrent colds or flu:

• Kidney 7.
• Spleen 6 (note: this point is contraindicated in pregnancy).
• Stomach 36.
• Lung 9.

Restless Legs

The following acupuncture point combination may help with Restless Leg Syndrome:

• Liver 3.
• Spleen 9.
• Xiyan.
• Gall Bladder 34.
• Heart 7.

Shoulder Pain

The following acupuncture points may help with managing shoulder pain:

• Large Intestine 15.
• San Jiao 14.
• Lung 2.
• Small Intestine 10.
• Small Intestine 11.
• Gall Bladder 21 (note: this point is contraindicated in pregnancy).

Stress and Tension

For generalised stress and tension, the following acupuncture point combination can be quite calming and relaxing:

• Liver 3.
• Large Intestine 4 (note: this point is contraindicated in pregnancy in which case San Jiao 5 can be used instead).
• Heart 7.
• Yintang.

Tension

The following points can be helpful if a patient feels angry, anxious or is very tense:

• Large Intestine 4.
• Liver 3.
• Gall Bladder 34.
• Yintang.
• Du 20 (needled backwards).

Upper Back Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing upper back pain:

• Extra Huato points at T1, T2 and T3.
• Gall Bladder 21 (note this point is contraindicated in pregnancy).
• Bladder 11.
• Bladder 12.
• Bladder 13.

Wrist Pain

The following acupuncture point combination may help with managing wrist pain:

• Large Intestine 5.
• Lung 9.
• Pericardium 7.
• Small Intestine 5.
• San Jiao 4.