acupoints-general

The theories and treatment protocols for acupuncture can be fairly technical, complex, and overwhelming for those seeking to utilize acupressure as a form of self-treatment. In acupuncture, proper treatment requires an appropriate diagnosis in terms relative to acupuncture, which may involve looking at the tongue, checking the pulse, palpating certain points and areas, and asking questions to come to a precise diagnosis. And acupuncture point selection is a complex art and science which takes practitioners years to feel comfortable with.

Within the field of acupuncture there are many styles, or schools of thought, and each of these schools contains within it unique diagnostic tools and theories which lead the practitioner to appropriate acupuncture point selection and treatment methods.

This page discusses some of the basic Traditional Chinese Medicine methods for choosing appropriate treatment points. In general, the selection of treatment points is based on the multiple uses and actions of various points. They can be used locally to treat specific conditions, reduce inflammation in an area, etc. or distally which are often chosen based on broader acupuncture theory and by utilizing the acupuncture point categories.

The cun is a measurement relative to the patients body that is used to find acupuncture points. Generally speaking one cun is equal to the space between the distal interphalangeal joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint on the middle finger. However, this cun can only be used on certain parts of the body when finding acupuncture points - on other points you use other relative landmarks. For example, the space from nipple to nipple is 8 cun and this 8 cun can be used to find points on the chest - the space from the center of the patella to the lateral malleolus is 16 cun and this 16 cun can be used to find points on the legs, etc.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective form of medicine. Complications from the clinical application of acupuncture are extremely rare and side effects, if any, are limited. There are a number of guidelines, however, which govern the use of particular acupuncture points. A precaution may be related to use in certain conditions, with particular techniques, or because of a points location. We have listed the commonly accepted contraindications and precautions below.

Note:  It is worth noting that these are general guidelines and there are cases, techniques a/or styles of acupuncture where a practitioner may still use a point or technique even if it is listed here as a precaution.

Our anatomy review section covers the terminology and musculoskeletal landmarks which are commonly used in the finding of acupuncture points. This information is also useful for practitioners of any style of bodywork or energywork.

If you have not had an acupuncture treatment or are looking for more general information, you may want to read our acupuncture basics page as well as our first acupuncture treatment information.