The eight acupoints used in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment are known as the Eight Extraordinary Meridians Acupoints. The so-called eight meridians refer to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), Du Mai (Governing Vessel), Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), Dai Mai (Belt Vessel), Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel), Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel), Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Vessel), and Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel). Collectively, they are referred to as the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. These meridians play a crucial role in commanding and regulating the qi and blood of the twelve regular meridians. In the limbs, there are eight acupoints that connect with the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, collectively known as the Eight Extraordinary Meridians Acupoints. These acupoints are: Hou Xi (Back Stream), Gong Sun (Grandfather Sun), Lie Que (Broken Sequence), Zu Lin Qi (Foot Tears), Zhao Hai (Shining Sea), Shen Mai (Spirit Pulse), Nei Guan (Inner Pass), and Wai Guan (Outer Pass). Below, we will briefly introduce these eight acupoints, which can greatly assist in treating and preventing diseases.
Hou Xi (Back Stream) Acupoint
Location: On the ulnar side of the palm, slightly clenching the fist, at the distal transverse crease of the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint, at the junction of the red-white flesh. The Hou Xi acupoint is located on the Tai Yang Xiao Chang Jing (Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Tai Yang) and connects with the Du Mai (Governing Vessel).
The verse for using the Hou Xi acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Hand and foot sudden battle, stroke without speech, epilepsy,
Headache, swollen eyes, tears flowing, leg, knee, back, and waist pain everywhere.
Stiff neck, unresolved cold, swollen teeth, throat,
Hand numbness, foot numbness, trauma pulling, night sweats, Hou Xi first needling.
Gong Sun (Grandfather Sun) Acupoint
Location: On the inner edge of the foot, just below the base of the first metatarsal bone.
The Gong Sun acupoint is located on the Tai Yin Pi Jing (Spleen Meridian of Foot Tai Yin) and connects with the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel).
The verse for using the Gong Sun acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Nine types of heart pain extend and linger, fish chest flips, stomach difficult to stop,
Food accumulation causes gastrointestinal sounds, water and food qi disease in the diaphragm.
Umbilical pain, abdominal pain, rib distension, intestinal wind, malaria heart pain,
Placenta not delivered, blood confuses the heart, diarrhea, Gong Sun should be used.
Lie Que (Broken Sequence) Acupoint
Location: On the radial side of the forearm, above the radial styloid process, 1.5 cun above the wrist transverse crease (one cun is approximately 3.3 cm). Between the brachioradialis and the tendon of the abductor pollicis longus. The Lie Que acupoint is located on the Tai Yin Fei Jing (Lung Meridian of Hand Tai Yin) and connects with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel).
The verse for using the Lie Que acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Hemorrhoids, malaria, swelling, diarrhea, red sputum, blood in urine, cough with phlegm,
Toothache, throat swelling, difficulty urinating, chest and abdominal pain, choking.
Postpartum fever, unable to speak, low back pain, blood diarrhea, cold umbilicus,
Stillbirth not delivered, cold in the diaphragm, Lie Que for breast pain, often disperses.
Zu Lin Qi (Foot Tears) Acupoint
Location: On the outer side of the foot, behind the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint, in the depression lateral to the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi. The Zu Lin Qi acupoint is located on the Shao Yang Dan Jing (Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shao Yang) and connects with the Dai Mai (Belt Vessel).
The verse for using the Zu Lin Qi acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Hand and foot stroke cannot lift, pain, numbness, heat, and spasm,
Head wind pain, swollen neck, connected to the jaw, swollen eyes, red pain, head spinning.
Tooth pain, deafness, throat swelling, floating wind, itching, muscle pulling,
Leg pain, rib distension, limb bias, Zu Lin Qi needling is often effective.
Zhao Hai (Shining Sea) Acupoint
Location: On the inner side of the foot, in the depression below the tip of the medial malleolus. The Zhao Hai acupoint is located on the Shao Yin Shen Jing (Kidney Meridian of Foot Shao Yin) and connects with the Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Vessel).
The verse for using the Zhao Hai acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Throat obstruction, painful urination, bladder qi pain, intestinal sounds,
Food, yellow wine accumulation in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach flipping, tightness.
Difficult labor, fainting, accumulation of lumps, intestinal wind, frequent blood loss,
Qi in the diaphragm, Zhao Hai is effective.
Shen Mai (Spirit Pulse) Acupoint
Location: On the outer side of the foot, directly below the lateral malleolus in the depression. The Shen Mai acupoint is located on the Tai Yang Pang Guang Jing (Bladder Meridian of Foot Tai Yang) and connects with the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel).
The verse for using the Shen Mai acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Low back pain, stiff legs, evil wind, sweating, headache,
Thunder head, red eyes, pain in the brow ridge, hand and foot numbness, cold arms.
Blowing milk, deafness, nosebleeds, epilepsy, limbs and joints vexed and hated,
Full body swelling, sweating, Shen Mai first needling is effective.
Nei Guan (Inner Pass) Acupoint
Location: On the palm side of the forearm, on the line connecting Qu Ze (Crooked Marsh) and Da Ling (Great Mound), 2 cun above the wrist transverse crease, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and the radial flexor of the wrist. The Nei Guan acupoint is located on the Jue Yin Xin Bao Jing (Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jue Yin) and connects with the Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel).
The verse for using the Nei Guan acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Fullness in the chest, bloating, intestinal sounds, diarrhea, prolapse,
Difficulty swallowing food, alcohol injury, lumps hard across the ribs.
Women’s rib pain, heart pain, chest tightness,
Unresolved cold in the chest, malaria, Nei Guan alone can block.
Wai Guan (Outer Pass) Acupoint
Location: On the dorsal side of the forearm, on the line connecting Yang Chi (Yang Pool) and the elbow tip, 2 cun above the wrist dorsal crease, between the ulna and radius. The Wai Guan acupoint is located on the Shao Yang San Jiao Jing (Triple Burner Meridian of Hand Shao Yang) and connects with the Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel).
The verse for using the Wai Guan acupoint in the Eight Methods of Flowing Treatment is:
Joint swelling and pain, cold knees, limbs not functioning, headache,
Back and hip, internal and external bone and muscle attack, pain in the head and neck.
Hand and foot heat, numbness, night sweats, trauma, swollen eyes, red eyes,
Unresolved cold sweat, Wai Guan is crucial.
Gui Gu Zi and the Mao Shan Daoist School of Alchemy and Modern Daoist Health Preservation
