The Yuan Dynasty scholar Dou Hanqing summarized the effects of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians in his work “Biao You Fu”: “The Yang Qiao (Yang Heel) and Yang Wei (Yang Linking) govern the symptoms on the surface related to the shoulders, back, waist, and legs; the Yin Qiao (Yin Heel), Yin Wei (Yin Linking), and Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) address the internal issues of the heart, abdomen, and ribs.“
The diseases treated by the Eight Extraordinary Meridians include not only those of the twelve meridians and the five zang and six fu organs but also some special types of diseases. For instance, brain diseases such as cerebral dementia, hemiplegia, hysteria, epilepsy, and neuroses are often related to the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), Yin Qiao, Chong Mai, and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). Spinal diseases, including demyelinating diseases and neuron diseases, are commonly associated with the Yin Qiao, Yang Qiao, Yin Wei, and Yang Wei. Additionally, there are syndromes that involve both meridians and organs, such as certain mental disorders and cardiac functional syndromes closely related to the Yin Wei; gastrointestinal functional syndromes related to the Chong Mai; reproductive system diseases associated with the Du, Ren, Yin Qiao, and Chong Mai; gynecological diseases related to the Ren, Chong, Yin Wei, and Yin Qiao; and immune system diseases associated with the Du Mai, Chong Mai, and Ren Mai.
(1) Traditional Acupuncture Points for the Eight Extraordinary Meridians
1Lie Que (Luo Point), Zhao Hai (Ren Mai, Yin Qiao)
Effects:Benefits lung qi, calms the spirit, clears empty heat, nourishes yin, and benefits the throat.
Indications:Conditions primarily characterized by yin deficiency affecting the throat, lungs, and chest diaphragm. Clinically, it is mainly used to treat sore throat, difficulty swallowing, loss of voice, cough, chest fullness, and urinary difficulties.
Point Analysis:Lie Que is a Luo point of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, connecting with the Ren Mai, facilitating the flow of yin and yang qi, dispelling wind, resolving the exterior, regulating lung qi, and stopping coughs. The “Jia Yi Jing” states: It treats febrile diseases with initial symptoms in the arms, lip and mouth swelling, nasal congestion, sweating like beads, hardness two inches below the breasts, fullness in the ribs, and palpitations. The “Qian Jin Yao Fang” states: It treats pain in the male genitalia, hematuria, and painful urination.
Zhao Hai connects with the Yin Qiao, having the effects of nourishing yin, benefiting the throat, and stopping spasms. The “Zhen Jiu Da Cheng” states: It is used for epilepsy that occurs at night. The “Tong Xuan Zhi Yao Fu” states: It treats weakness in the limbs.
Lie Que and Zhao Hai complement each other, symbolizing the generation of metal and water, which can nourish the yin of the lungs and kidneys, treating diseases primarily characterized by yin deficiency in the throat, lungs, and chest diaphragm.
2Nei Guan (Pericardium Meridian), Gong Sun (Yin Wei, Chong Mai)
Effects:Regulates the middle, eliminates stagnation, and harmonizes the spleen.
Indications:Conditions caused by qi stagnation and spleen deficiency leading to chest fullness, food stagnation, and poor spleen and stomach function.
Point Analysis:Nei Guan is a Luo point of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and an intersection point of the Yin Wei, having the effects of clearing heat from the pericardium, regulating qi, and alleviating pain. The “Zhen Jiu Ju Ying” states: It treats loss of will and heart pain. The “Xun Jing Kao Xue Bian” states: It treats vomiting, qi stagnation, fullness, epilepsy, and mania. The “Zhen Jiu Xue” states: It treats chest pain, stomach pain, abdominal pain, diaphragm spasms, migraines, epilepsy, and hysteria.
Gong Sun is a Luo point of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, regulating the spleen and stomach, ascending clear qi, and descending rebellious qi. The “Zhen Jiu Ju Ying” states: It treats lack of appetite, abdominal pain, qi rebellion, nausea, excessive drinking, and anxiety. The “Xun Jing Kao Xue Bian” states: It treats edema, fullness, and spleen and stomach pain. The “Zhen Jiu Xue” states: It treats stomach pain, acute and chronic gastroenteritis, and vomiting.
Nei Guan and Gong Sun are a group of ancient intersection points of the Eight Meridians, with a wide range of indications. Their indications can be summarized as pain caused by tangible evils in the chest, epigastrium, and abdomen; and mental distress and fullness caused by intangible stagnation.
3Wai Guan (Triple Energizer Meridian), Zu Lin Qi (Yang Wei, Dai Mai)
Effects:Clears and drains liver and gallbladder wind-heat.
Indications:Conditions caused by the rebellious fire of the liver and gallbladder, and wind-heat attacking, leading to nausea, headaches, red eyes, epistaxis, tooth pain, and throat obstruction.
Point Analysis:Wai Guan is a Luo point of the Hand Shaoyin Sanjiao Meridian and an intersection point of the Yang Wei, having the effects of dispelling heat, relieving wind, and clearing the liver and gallbladder. The “Zhen Jiu Xue” states: It treats high fever, mumps, deafness, tinnitus, migraines, throat swelling, and constipation.
Zu Lin Qi is a Shu (Wood) point of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and an intersection point of the Dai Mai, having the effects of draining the liver and gallbladder and regulating the Dai Mai. The “Zhen Jiu Xue” states: It treats dizziness, headaches, conjunctivitis, cervical lymphadenitis, neck swelling, and eye pain.
Clinically, these points are used to treat wind-heat headaches, and symptoms of excessive liver and gallbladder fire such as red, swollen, dry eyes, photophobia, and dizziness.
4Shen Mai (Yang Qiao), Hou Xi (Du Mai)
Effects:Regulates the Du Mai, clears the heart, and calms the spirit.
Indications:Mainly used for epilepsy and sensory abnormalities or motor disorders caused by spinal diseases, such as syringomyelia and hysteria.
Point Analysis:Hou Xi is a Shu point of the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian and one of the Eight Meridians intersection points; Shen Mai is a point of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and also one of the Eight Meridians intersection points, generated by the Yang Qiao. They have the effects of unblocking the Yang Qiao, clearing the heart, and calming the spirit.
The “Zhen Jiu Ju Ying” states: It treats dizziness and low back pain. The “Zhen Jiu Xue” states: It treats headaches, low back pain, dizziness, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.
Clinical modifications of Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) and combined formulas (below)
Kidney inflammation is often caused by wind, promoting lung function, dispelling wind, and restoring balance.