According to Daoist medicine, there are eight essential substances in the human body: organs (zang), bowels (fu), qi (vital energy), blood, tendons, meridians, bones, and marrow. These eight substances are the essence of our body, and their health is crucial for overall well-being.
How can we protect these eight substances? During the Spring and Autumn period, the renowned physician Bian Que (real name Qin Yue Ren) was one of the pioneers in establishing the Eight Extraordinary Meridians of the human body. In his book “Nan Jing” (Classic of Difficult Issues), he proposed the Eight Meeting Points.
In “Nan Jing, Chapter 45”: “The classics mention the eight meeting points; what are they? The meeting points are: the Tai Cang (Zhong Wan) for the organs, the Zhang Men for the storage, the Yang Ling Quan for the tendons, the Xuan Zhong for the marrow, the Ge Yu for the blood, the Da Zhu for the bones, the Tai Yuan for the meridians, and the San Jiao for the qi (located between the two breasts, at the center of the chest).”
The eight meeting points correspond to the eight types of organs and tissues, serving as the eight major gathering points of vital energy.
The eight meeting points are closely related to their respective organs and tissues, with a wide range of regulation and applicability for various diseases, and effective acupuncture results. In a sense, they cover diseases throughout the body.
Meeting Point of the Zang: Zhang Men (Chapter Gate)
Location of Zhang Men: Below the free end of the 11th rib, at the edge of the rib cage, bilaterally.
Zhang Men is the meeting point of the zang organs, primarily functioning to regulate diseases of the five zang organs, such as indigestion, abdominal pain, bloating, enteritis, diarrhea, hepatitis, jaundice, and enlargement of the liver and spleen.
Zhang Men is also part of the liver meridian and is the mu point of the spleen, with effects of soothing the liver, strengthening the spleen, regulating qi, and invigorating blood. It is particularly useful for gynecological diseases, as many gynecological issues are related to the liver meridian. Tapping or moxibustion on Zhang Men can help disperse liver qi stagnation and prevent and treat conditions like mammary gland hyperplasia.
Additionally, it can enhance the functions of the spleen and gallbladder, increase bile secretion, and promote the consumption of excess fat, aiding in weight loss.
Meeting Point of the Fu: Zhong Wan (Middle Cavity)
Location of Zhong Wan: On the anterior midline, 4 cun above the navel.
Zhong Wan is the meeting point of the fu organs, belonging to the Ren Meridian, and is also the mu point of the stomach, with functions of regulating the middle jiao, promoting qi and blood circulation, and clearing heat and stagnation.
It is known that the body has six fu organs, all of which are dependent on the stomach. Therefore, this acupoint is crucial for the stomach, making it a must-moxibustion point for stomach pain and diseases. It is also a convergence point for the small intestine, gallbladder, stomach, and Ren meridians, capable of regulating various diseases of the six fu organs.
Symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, hiccups, acid reflux, poor appetite, undigested food, dysentery, jaundice, intestinal rumbling, diarrhea, constipation, blood in stool, and insomnia can all be assisted by moxibustion at this point to nourish the postnatal qi.
Meeting Point of Qi: Dan Zhong (Middle of the Chest)
Location of Dan Zhong: Located at the golden section point of the human torso, at the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples.
Dan Zhong is known as the sea of qi, being the acupoint for gathering qi. It alleviates various qi-related diseases, such as asthma, chest tightness, palpitations, irritability, and angina, providing immediate relief. It also helps regulate chronic liver disease and bronchitis. Regular moxibustion at this point can help open the “qi gate” and allow qi to flow throughout the body.
It reminds us that when we feel anxious or depressed, the qi can easily become blocked, leading to chest tightness and irritability. At such times, massaging or moxibustion at Dan Zhong can help open the chest, smooth the qi, and soothe emotions. Women who experience insufficient milk production after childbirth can also benefit from regular moxibustion at this point.
Meeting Point of Blood: Ge Yu (Diaphragm Shu)
Location of Ge Yu: On the back, below the 7th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that sufficient qi and blood are the foundation of a person’s health. Ge Yu is located between the heart and liver points, serving as a meeting point for qi. Its effects are comparable to those of Angelica (Dang Gui) and Ejiao, with functions of invigorating blood, stopping bleeding, and nourishing blood. It primarily regulates various blood deficiency syndromes, bleeding disorders, and blood stasis conditions.
Regular moxibustion at Ge Yu can help with anemia, vomiting, hiccups, asthma, cough, hemoptysis, skin itching due to blood deficiency, and alleviate heat flashes and night sweats caused by yin and blood deficiency. It also enhances the body’s immunity, making it an invaluable acupoint for women’s health.
Meeting Point of Tendons: Yang Ling Quan (Yang Mound Spring)
Location of Yang Ling Quan: In the depression below the head of the fibula (located three cun below the outer knee joint).
Yang Ling Quan is the meeting point of the tendons and is also the He point of the gallbladder meridian, with effects of clearing the liver, benefiting the gallbladder, and relaxing the tendons and meridians.
It primarily regulates hemiplegia, lower limb weakness, numbness, knee swelling and pain, beriberi, vomiting, jaundice, and pediatric convulsions. Clinically, it is often used for sciatica, hepatitis, cholecystitis, biliary ascariasis, knee arthritis, and pediatric chorea.
Meeting Point of Meridians: Tai Yuan (Great Abyss)
Location of Tai Yuan: On the palmar side of the wrist crease, in the radial side of the radial artery depression. There are two acupoints.
Tai Yuan belongs to the lung meridian and is the meeting point of the meridians, where the qi of the organs and meridians converge. It has the functions of regulating qi and blood, unblocking the blood vessels, and assisting the heart’s pulsation. Therefore, it can be used for heart pain and palpitations due to blood stasis, as well as for relaxing tendons and joints, and treating wrist pain and weakness.
Tai Yuan is also the mother point and source point of the lung meridian. The ancients said: Tai Yuan is the shu point of the lung, where “shu” means to transport. The main function of Tai Yuan is to eliminate cold and dampness from the lungs, ensuring lung health, making its role significant. Symptoms such as cough with phlegm, hemoptysis, chest pain, wrist weakness, and various lung diseases can be treated by pressing or moxibustion at Tai Yuan, which is more effective than taking cough medicine!
Meeting Point of Bones: Da Zhu (Great Shuttle)
Location of Da Zhu: Below the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral. There are two acupoints.
Da Zhu belongs to the bladder meridian and is one of the eight meeting points for bones, primarily treating bone diseases, with effects of dispelling wind, clearing heat, and strengthening tendons and bones.
According to the “Nan Jing”: “For bone diseases, treat here.” The “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing” mentions: “For neck pain, inability to bend or stretch, headaches, chills, and other symptoms, Da Zhu is the main point.” Modern research shows that acupuncture at Da Zhu can adjust lung function, affect calcium metabolism, increase lung ventilation, and strengthen bones.
Meeting Point of Marrow: Xuan Zhong (Suspended Bell)
Location of Xuan Zhong: Located on the outer side of the calf, 3 cun above the outer ankle tip, at the anterior edge of the fibula.
Xuan Zhong is the meeting point of the marrow, also known as the “absolute bone” point, belonging to the gallbladder meridian, with functions of unblocking the meridians and strengthening tendons and bones.
The brain is considered the sea of marrow, and the gallbladder meridian runs along the temporal region, thus it treats migraines; the foot Shao Yang meridian runs through the neck and chest, so Xuan Zhong can treat diseases of the neck, chest, and throat. The foot Shao Yang meridian runs through the lower limbs, and Xuan Zhong, located above the outer ankle, can treat qi and blood deficiency, nourish the tendons and meridians, and alleviate conditions like beriberi.
According to the “Qian Jin Yao Fang”: “For those who run wildly and easily scold, moxibustion at the eight meeting points can strengthen them throughout the year; the acupoint is located five fen below the Yang Ming.” Friends, the eight meeting points are essential to know and use; skillful use of the eight meeting points can double the effects!
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