Week five - 5 elements acupuncture

Question 1

What are the five shu points?

Answer 1

Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, He-Sea.

Question 2

What are five element treatments focused on?

Answer 2

Treatments are usually focussed on balancing Yin channels.
The function of each point is directly linked to the attributes of its corresponding element.

Question 3

What is the function of water points?

Answer 3

cool Heat, tonify Yin, resolve Damp & Phlegm, regulate the water passages.

Question 4

What is the function of Wood points?

Answer 4

Strong & dynamic movement of Qi, affinity for extinguishing Wind, treat the sensory orifices (specifically eyes).

Question 5

What is the function of Fire points?

Answer 5

clear Heat, drain Fire, calm the Shén. Note: they are not used for tonifying Yang.

Question 6

What is the function of Earth points?

Answer 6

tonify & strengthen, grounding effect, used for digestive complaints.

Question 7

What is the function of metal points?

Answer 7

Build Wei Qi, treat external pathogenic attacks, tonify Lung Qi.

Question 8

What is a constitutional factor?

Answer 8

Also known as ‘causative’ factor – a primary imbalance which causes Qi imbalance in other organs / elements.
Inherited or acquired during early childhood.

Question 9

What are the four diagnostic signs of a constitutional factor?

Answer 9

Four diagnostic signs take precedence over physical symptoms:
1. emotion with the most inappropriate expression in the person
2. the colour on the face (particularly lower temples beside the eye)
3. the odour emitted by the body
4. the sound present in the voice (particularly when tone is not congruent with emotion being expressed)

Question 10

What are the four blocks to treatment in elemental acupuncture?

Answer 10

1. Aggressive energy – ‘polluted’ or ‘xie’ Qi travels along the Ke cycle (control cycle becomes destructive cycle – Yin organ to Yin organ). Caused by EPFs or emotions.
2. Possession – ‘gui’ ghost points
3. Husband-Wife imbalance–left(husband) pulses should be stronger than right (wife). Opposite presentation indicates imbalance Yin/Yang.
4. Entry-Exit blocks – 12 channels connect to each other forming a circuit via Entry/Exit points (see order of channels in Table 3) – complete or partial blockage of Qi flow at the points or along whole channel.

Question 11

What is the tonification technique?

Answer 11

Tonification (most common) 2-3 seconds in total:
Needle left side of body first, then right.
Insert needle 10̊ off perpendicular towards the flow of Qi
Slow insertion to required depth as patient exhales
Obtain De Qi, rotate needle 180̊ then remove needle, seal point.

Question 12

What is the sedation technique?

Answer 12

Sedation (less common) retain needles 20-30mins: Needle right side of body first, then left.
Insert needle 10̊ off perpendicular against the flow of Qi Rapid insertion to required depth as patient inhales Rotate needle 360̊ anti-clockwise to obtain De Qi. Retain until desired pulse change occurs.
Remove needle slowly, do not close the point.

Question 13

What is the technique to treat the spirit?

Answer 13

When treating ‘spirit’ issues rather than physical issues – use finer needles, fewer points, short or no retention, less sensation.

Question 14

What are element points?

Answer 14

Element points are the points that represent the same element as the channel it is on.
These points strengthen the energetic function of that element and channel.
This is more useful if there is disharmony in a single element rather than multiple elements.

Question 15

List the element points?

Answer 15

Earth channel, earth points – ST36, SP3
Metal channel, metal points – LI1, LU8
Water channel, water points – BL66, KI10
Wood channel, wood points – GB41, LR1
Fire channel, fire points – TE6, SI5, PC8, HT8

Question 16

What is the Sheng cycle two needle technique?

Answer 16

Sedate the child element, point on the excess channel.
Example: excess wood – sedate LR2 or GB38
For deficient conditions: tonify the mother point on the deficient channel.
Example: deficient earth – tonify ST41 or SP2

Question 17

How to tonify an organ? Example Kidneys

Answer 17

Example: tonifying Kidneys.
Use KI7 – Mother point on the Kidney channel
Plus
A Mother point on the Lung channel
LU5 – Child point on the Lung channel (Water point on the Metal channel) or
LU8 – Element point (Metal point on the Metal channel)

Question 18

To reduce an organ: example?

Answer 18

Reduce the Child channel of Fire (HT, PC or SI, TE) (Sheng cycle)
Or
Sedate using the Controlling (Ke cycle) channel (tonify Metal/Lung) to control the Wood excess.
Your point prescription may be LR2 + LU8
Or
LR2 + a sedating point on a Fire channel depending on which was most excessive.
*Don’t drain a deficient channel – use an Element point if you need to.

Question 19

How is the four needle technique applied on two channels?

Answer 19

Deficient condition:
Tonify/reinforce the Element point on the Mother channel. Tonify Mother point on the deficient channel.

Excess condition:
Sedate/reduce the Element point on the Child channel. Sedate/reduce the Child point on the excess.

Question 20

What is the grandparent relationship?

Answer 20

The grandparent’s role is to control the behaviour of a naughty grandchild.
If the Wood element is in excess, tonify the Metal to keep it under control.
Additionally, tonify the Earth to prevent the Wood excess from invading Earth.