Essential Reading on Acupuncture: Gao Lishan Discusses Three Principles and Ten Methods for Pain Relief

Chinese Medicine Book Club Issue 3200

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IIntroduction：As the saying goes, “The great way is extremely simple” and “To be concise is to be effective,” this article by Teacher Gao Lishan on acupuncture for pain relief embodies this principle. After reading, you will feel refreshed; try it and see!

—This article is approximately2300words long, expected reading time7minutes—

Three Principles and Ten Methods of Acupuncture for Pain ReliefAuthor/Gao Lishan

Having engaged in clinical acupuncture for over 30 years, I have treated a large number of patients with pain. Below is a brief summary of my experience in acupuncture for pain relief. 1. Three Principles of Acupuncture for Pain Relief: referred to as “Three Principles”1. Where there is obstruction, there is pain; where there is flow, there is no pain The ancients believed that the fundamental cause of pain is the obstruction of qi and blood in the organs and meridians. Therefore, treatment should focus on unblocking the meridians and harmonizing the organs to achieve the flow of qi and blood, which can alleviate pain. This raises the question: what causes the obstruction of qi and blood? Which organ or meridian is obstructed? This is crucial for treating pain, and it is the foundation of my summary of the ten methods of acupuncture for pain relief. 2. For localized pain, select the intersecting and penetrating meridians Pain caused by meridian disorders should be treated by selecting acupuncture points on the meridians that intersect or penetrate the area of pain. In other words, to effectively treat pain, one must be familiar with the pathways and distributions of the meridians. The ancients also provided further specific guidance, such as seeking the original, divergent, intersecting, and meeting points when meridian obstruction causes pain. This means that when pain arises from meridian obstruction and qi and blood stagnation, one can use the original points, connecting points, intersecting points, and meeting points of the intersecting meridians for treatment. This is the principle for treating pain caused by meridian disorders. 3. For organ disorders, seek the points of doors, seas, shu, and mu When the qi and blood of the organs are unbalanced, one should use acupuncture points with the character “men” (such as Qimen (Liver Gate), Zhangmen (Spleen Gate)) or “hai” (such as Qihai (Sea of Qi), Xuehai (Sea of Blood)), as well as the shu and mu points of the five zang and six fu organs to treat. By using these points, one can harmonize the qi and blood of the organs, achieving the goal of treating pain caused by organ disorders. Pain often affects a person’s spirit, causing restlessness, insomnia, and irritability. This is how pain impacts the spirit, affecting the heart. Some painful sores may also be red and swollen, causing irritability, which indicates that pain affects the blood vessels, and since the heart governs the blood vessels and the spirit, it also affects the heart’s manifestations. Therefore, in the nineteen patterns of disease mechanisms, it is stated: all pain, itching, and sores belong to the heart. Based on this principle, when treating pain, regardless of whether it is due to organ or meridian issues, if the patient exhibits restlessness, irritability, rapid pulse, and yellow urine, one should include methods to clear the heart (acupuncture points such as Daling (Great Mound), Jianshi (Intermediary), Xinshu (Heart Shu)). Herbs such as Shengdi (Rehmannia), Mutong (Akebia), Zhuyou (Bamboo Leaves), Shenggan (Raw Licorice), Lianqiao (Forsythia), and Huanglian (Coptis) can also be used to achieve satisfactory pain relief. 2. Ten Methods of Acupuncture for Pain Relief: referred to as “Ten Methods”1. Wind-dispelling pain relief method Wind is a Yang pathogen that disperses and harms the skin, causing an imbalance in the defensive and nutritive qi, leading to pain. The treatment involves dispersing the wind pathogen and harmonizing the defensive and nutritive qi. Acupuncture points: Fengchi (Wind Pool), Fengfu (Wind Palace), Fengshi (Wind Market). Fengchi can dispel wind and release the exterior, Fengfu can dispel wind and clear the spirit, and Fengshi can dispel wind and unblock the meridians. This method primarily treats external wind, and pain can occur throughout the body rather than being localized. Symptoms such as sweating, slow pulse, headache, low back pain, and limb pain due to external wind can all be treated. 2. Cold-dispelling pain relief method Cold is a Yin pathogen that contracts and harms the skin, causing obstruction in the meridians and resulting in pain. The treatment involves dispelling cold, unblocking the meridians, and promoting qi flow to relieve pain. Acupuncture points: Dazhui (Great Vertebra), Houxi (Back Stream), Kunlun (Kunlun).Dazhui is the meeting point of the three Yang channels of the hands and feet and the Governing Vessel, which can assist Yang to dispel cold.Houxi is the meeting point of the eight meridians, which can unblock the Governing Vessel.Kunlun is the pathway of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, which runs from above to below along the back, where cold pathogens first invade the Taiyang.These three points work together to disperse cold pathogens, promote qi flow, and relieve pain.3. Dampness-dispelling pain relief method Dampness is sticky and can obstruct the flow of qi, leading to symptoms such as dizziness when it stagnates in the upper body, and chest tightness and abdominal distension when it stagnates in the trunk. When dampness flows to the limbs, it causes swelling and pain. Treatment should focus on dispelling dampness, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. Acupuncture points: Zhongwan (Middle Stomach), Zusanli (Leg Three Miles), Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection). Zhongwan and Sanyinjiao can dispel dampness and strengthen the spleen, while Zusanli can elevate the clear and descend the turbid, reducing swelling and dispelling dampness. These three points work together to strengthen the spleen, promote qi flow, dispel dampness, and relieve pain. 4. Qi-moving pain relief method Qi stagnation leads to pain; the ancients spoke of injuries causing swelling and qi injuries causing pain. Here, qi stagnation refers to both liver qi stagnation and emotional stress causing qi stagnation. The treatment should focus on soothing the liver, moving qi, and relieving pain. Acupuncture points: Ganshu (Liver Shu), Qimen (Liver Gate), Yanglingquan (Yang Mound Spring). Ganshu and Qimen are the shu and mu points of the liver, which can soothe the liver and regulate qi to relieve pain. Yanglingquan is the meeting point of the Gallbladder Meridian, which can soothe the liver and benefit the gallbladder. These points can be used to treat chest and flank pain, stomach pain, and limb pain. 5. Blood-activating pain relief method Injuries, qi stagnation, and blood stasis can lead to pain, often characterized by stabbing pain that is localized, lighter during the day and worse at night. The treatment should focus on activating blood, resolving stasis, and promoting qi flow to relieve pain. Acupuncture points: Chize (Cubital Marsh), Weizhong (Middle of the Knee), Geshu (Diaphragm Shu). For upper limb and upper body stasis, Chize is often used for bloodletting; for lower limb and lower body stasis, Weizhong is often used for bloodletting, while Geshu is the meeting point of blood. These three points can activate blood, resolve stasis, and can be combined with local points for specific areas of stasis. 6. Warming the center pain relief method Cold pathogens can invade directly or arise from within, often causing abdominal pain. Treatment should focus on warming the center, dispersing cold, and promoting qi flow to relieve pain. This method can be used for stomach pain, abdominal pain, and dysmenorrhea due to cold. Acupuncture points: Zhongwan (Middle Stomach), Qihai (Sea of Qi), Pishu (Spleen Shu). Moxibustion on Zhongwan and Qihai can warm the middle and disperse cold; acupuncture at Pishu can warm and promote spleen yang, disperse cold, and relieve pain. 7. Food-digesting pain relief method Food stagnation in the middle jiao or obstruction in the intestines can lead to constipation, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain. Therefore, it is necessary to digest food accumulation, unblock the intestines, and ensure smooth bowel movements to relieve distension and pain. Acupuncture points: Zhongwan (Middle Stomach), Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot), Zusanli (Leg Three Miles).Zhongwan regulates the stomach, Tianshu unblocks the intestines, and Zusanli can elevate and descend, promoting the movement of the stomach and intestines. Food stagnation can be eliminated, and abdominal pain can be relieved. 8. Blood-nourishing pain relief method External injuries or excessive blood loss during childbirth can lead to insufficient nourishment of the tendons and muscles, causing pain that may sometimes be wandering and unpredictable. The treatment should focus on nourishing blood and enriching the tendons to relieve pain. Acupuncture points: Ganshu (Liver Shu), Pishu (Spleen Shu), Yanglingquan (Yang Mound Spring). The liver stores blood, and the spleen governs blood. Ganshu regulates liver blood to nourish the tendons, while Pishu benefits the spleen to increase the generation of qi and blood. Yanglingquan is the meeting point of the tendons, which can relax the tendons and joints to relieve pain. For severe pain, local points can also be selected. 9. Heat-clearing pain relief method All pain, itching, and sores belong to heart fire. When the fire pathogen is excessive, the skin swells, and blood circulation is obstructed, leading to pain, such as inflammation characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Acupuncture points: Shixuan (Ten Diffusions), Daling (Great Mound), Fenglong (Abundant Bulge). Shixuan can release blood to drain heat from the organs, while Fenglong can drain heat from the six fu organs. By removing heat and reducing swelling, the pain can be alleviated. 10. Kidney-nourishing pain relief method The kidneys govern the bones, and the liver governs the tendons. When the liver and kidneys are deficient, it can lead to pain in the tendons and bones, which can worsen with external cold pathogens. The treatment should focus on nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening the tendons and bones; when kidney qi is abundant, the tendons and bones will not hurt. Acupuncture points: Ganshu (Liver Shu), Shenshu (Kidney Shu), Taixi (Great Stream), Dazhu (Great Vertebra). The liver stores blood, and the kidneys store essence. When essence and blood are deficient, the tendons and bones lack nourishment, often leading to low back and knee pain. If accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, insomnia, and a deep, thin, wiry pulse, this method can be applied. Conclusion The above “Three Principles” and “Ten Methods” are merely a summary of personal experience and do not encompass all aspects of acupuncture for pain relief. The selected points are examples of commonly used points. Readers need not be rigid; they can also establish points based on the principles. For example, if low back and leg pain is caused by wind and cold, one can use Dazhui, Houxi, Fengchi, and Zhibian, selecting the original points of the intersecting meridians. If the pain is accompanied by restlessness, one can also add Daling and Jianshi. This is provided as a reference.

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—Copyright Statement—

• This article is excerpted from “Chinese Acupuncture,” Issue 4, 1992 | Author/Gao Lishan | Editor/Wang Chao | Proofreader/Dina | Typesetting/Qian Cheng

• This article is copyrighted by the rights holder. For educational exchange only, please do not use it indiscriminately.

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