灵枢经·本输 The Basic Transport Points

Huangdi asked Qibo, saying: 'In the way of needling generally, one must thoroughly understand the beginning and end of the twelve channels and their network vessels, the places where the network vessels branch off, the places where the five transport points reside, the bowels with which each channel unites, the seasonal points of emergence and entry, the places where the qi of the five viscera flows, the measure of their breadth and number, the manner of their shallowness and depth, and the heights and depths to which they extend. I wish to hear this explained.'

Qibo said: 'Allow me to set them forth in order. The lung channel emerges at Shaoshang — Shaoshang lies at the inner side of the tip of the thumb — and is the wood well point. It flows into Yuji — Yuji lies at the 'fish' of the hand, the fleshy eminence at the base of the thumb — and is the spring point. It pours into Taiyuan — Taiyuan lies in the depression one cun behind the fish — and is the stream point. It travels through Jingqu — Jingqu lies at the radial pulse of the wrist, where the pulse beats without ceasing — and is the river point. It enters at Chize — Chize lies at the pulsating vessel in the crook of the elbow — and is the sea point. This is the Hand Taiyin channel.'

The heart channel emerges at Zhongchong — Zhongchong lies at the tip of the middle finger — and is the wood well point. It flows into Laogong — Laogong lies in the palm, at the inner side of the base joint of the middle finger — and is the spring point. It pours into Daling — Daling lies just below, between the two bones behind the palm — and is the stream point. It travels through Jianshi — the path of Jianshi lies between the two sinews, three cun above the wrist; when there is a disorder, the pulse arrives there, and when there is none, it does not — and this is the river point. It enters at Quze — Quze lies in the depression on the inner border below the elbow, found by bending the arm — and is the sea point. This is the Hand Shaoyin channel.

The liver channel emerges at Dadun — Dadun lies at the tip of the big toe, at the cluster of three hairs — and is the wood well point. It flows into Xingjian — Xingjian lies between the big toe and the second toe — and is the spring point. It pours into Taichong — Taichong lies in the depression two cun above Xingjian — and is the stream point. It travels through Zhongfeng — Zhongfeng lies in the depression one and a half cun in front of the inner ankle bone; if manipulated against the current the qi becomes congested, if manipulated in accord with the current it flows freely, and the point is found by rotating the foot — and this is the river point. It enters at Ququan — Ququan lies below the rounded bone and above the great sinew, and is found by bending the knee — and is the sea point. This is the Foot Jueyin channel.

The spleen channel emerges at Yinbai — Yinbai lies at the inner side of the tip of the big toe — and is the wood well point. It flows into Dadu — Dadu lies in the depression below and behind the base joint — and is the spring point. It pours into Taibai — Taibai lies below the wrist-bone of the foot — and is the stream point. It travels through Shangqiu — Shangqiu lies in the depression below the inner ankle bone — and is the river point. It enters at Yinlingquan — Yinlingquan lies in the depression below the rounded bone, and is found by extending the leg — and is the sea point. This is the Foot Taiyin channel.

The kidney channel emerges at Yongquan — Yongquan lies at the center of the sole of the foot — and is the wood well point. It flows into Rangu — Rangu lies below the 'blazing bone,' the navicular tuberosity — and is the spring point. It pours into Taixi — Taixi lies in the depression behind the inner ankle bone and above the heel bone — and is the stream point. It travels through Fuliu — Fuliu lies two cun above the inner ankle bone, where the pulse beats without ceasing — and is the river point. It enters at Yingu — Yingu lies behind the rounded bone, below the great sinew and above the small sinew; pressing there the pulse responds to the hand, and it is found by bending the knee — and is the sea point. This is the Foot Shaoyin channel.

The bladder channel emerges at Zhiyin — Zhiyin lies at the tip of the small toe — and is the metal well point. It flows into Tonggu — Tonggu lies at the outer side, in front of the base joint — and is the spring point. It pours into Shugu — Shugu lies in the depression behind the base joint — and is the stream point. It passes through Jinggu — Jinggu lies below the great bone on the outer side of the foot — and is the source point. It travels through Kunlun — Kunlun lies behind the outer ankle bone and above the heel bone — and is the river point. It enters at Weizhong — Weizhong lies at the center of the popliteal crease — and is the sea point, found with the knee bent. This is the Foot Taiyang channel.

The gallbladder channel emerges at Qiaoyin — Qiaoyin lies at the tip of the fourth toe — and is the metal well point. It flows into Xiaxi — Xiaxi lies between the fourth toe and the small toe — and is the spring point. It pours into Linqi — Linqi lies one and a half cun further up, in a depression — and is the stream point. It passes through Qiuxu — Qiuxu lies in the depression in front of and below the outer ankle bone — and is the source point. It travels through Yangfu — Yangfu lies above the outer ankle bone, in front of the rounded bone, at the tip of the 'severed bone' — and is the river point. It enters at Yanglingquan — Yanglingquan lies in the depression at the outer side of the knee, found by extending the leg — and is the sea point. This is the Foot Shaoyang channel.

The stomach channel emerges at Lidui — Lidui lies at the tip of the second toe, on the side next to the big toe — and is the metal well point. It flows into Neiting — Neiting lies between the second and third toes — and is the spring point. It pours into Xiangu — Xiangu lies two cun further up, on the inner side of the middle toe, in a depression — and is the stream point. It passes through Chongyang — Chongyang lies five cun up on the instep, in a depression, and is found by rotating the foot — and is the source point. It travels through Jiexi — Jiexi lies one and a half cun above Chongyang, in a depression — and is the river point. It enters at Xialing, that is, Zusanli — which lies three cun below the knee, at the outer side of the shinbone — and is the sea point. Three cun further below Sanli lies Juxu Shanglian, the Upper Great Void, and three cun further below that lies Juxu Xialian, the Lower Great Void. The large intestine is associated with the upper of these two points, and the small intestine with the lower — this is the Foot Yangming stomach channel. Both the large intestine and the small intestine belong to the stomach, which is the Foot Yangming.

The triple burner, in its upper association, unites with the Hand Shaoyang channel, emerging at Guanchong — Guanchong lies at the tip of the fourth finger — and is the metal well point. It flows into Yemen — Yemen lies between the fourth and small fingers — and is the spring point. It pours into Zhongzhu — Zhongzhu lies in the depression behind the base joint — and is the stream point. It passes through Yangchi — Yangchi lies in the depression above the wrist — and is the source point. It travels through Zhigou — Zhigou lies three cun above the wrist, in the depression between the two bones — and is the river point. It enters at Tianjing — Tianjing lies in the depression above the great bone on the outer side of the elbow, found by bending the elbow — and is the sea point. The lower transport point of the triple burner lies in front of the big toe of the foot and behind the Shaoyang channel, emerging at the outer side of the center of the popliteal fossa, at the point called Weiyang; this is the network point of the Taiyang, and belongs to the Hand Shaoyang channel. The triple burner is that which the Foot Shaoyang and Taiyin channels bring forth, a branch of the Taiyang; five cun above the ankle it branches off, penetrates through the calf, and emerges at Weiyang, joining the main pathway of the Taiyang, entering to network with the bladder, and binding the lower burner. When it is in excess there is closure and difficulty in urination; when it is deficient there is incontinence of urine. For incontinence, one should supplement; for closure and difficulty in urination, one should drain.

The Hand Taiyang small intestine channel, in its upper association, unites with the Hand Taiyang, emerging at Shaoze — Shaoze lies at the tip of the small finger — and is the metal well point. It flows into Qiangu — Qiangu lies in the depression on the outer side of the hand, in front of the base joint — and is the spring point. It pours into Houxi — Houxi lies on the outer side of the hand, behind the base joint — and is the stream point. It passes through Wangu — Wangu lies on the outer side of the hand, in front of the wrist bone — and is the source point. It travels through Yanggu — Yanggu lies in the depression below the pointed bone — and is the river point. It enters at Xiaohai — Xiaohai lies outside the great bone of the inner elbow, half a cun from its tip, in a depression, found by extending the arm — and is the sea point. This is the Hand Taiyang channel.

The large intestine channel, in its upper association, unites with the Hand Yangming, emerging at Shangyang — Shangyang lies at the tip of the index finger — and is the metal well point. It flows into Erjian, in front of the base joint, and is the spring point. It pours into Sanjian, behind the base joint, and is the stream point. It passes through Hegu — Hegu lies between the forking bones of the thumb — and is the source point. It travels through Yangxi — Yangxi lies in the depression between the two sinews — and is the river point. It enters at Quchi, which lies in the depression by the rounded bone on the outer side of the elbow, found by bending the arm — and is the sea point. This is the Hand Yangming channel.

These are called the transport points of the five viscera and six bowels: five times five making twenty-five transport points, and six times six making thirty-six transport points. The six bowels all emerge from the three yang channels of the foot, and in their upper association unite with the channels of the hand.

At the center of the supraclavicular fossa lies the Conception Vessel, at the point called Tiantu. The first vessel beside the Conception Vessel is the pulsating vessel of the Foot Yangming, at the point called Renying. The second vessel is that of the Hand Yangming, at the point called Futu. The third vessel is that of the Hand Taiyang, at the point called Tianchuang. The fourth vessel is that of the Foot Shaoyang, at the point called Tianrong. The fifth vessel is that of the Hand Shaoyang, at the point called Tianyou. The sixth vessel is that of the Foot Taiyang, at the point called Tianzhu. The seventh vessel, at the center of the nape of the neck, is the Governing Vessel, at the point called Fengfu. The pulsating vessel within the armpit belongs to the Hand Taiyin, at the point called Tianfu. Three cun below the armpit belongs to the Hand Jueyin, at the point called Tianchi.

When needling Shangguan, the patient can open the mouth wide but cannot close it. When needling Xiaguan, the patient can close the mouth but cannot open it wide. When needling Dubi, the patient can bend the knee but cannot extend it. When needling both Guan points together, the patient can extend the limb but cannot bend it.

The Foot Yangming channel has its pulsating vessel beside the throat, and its transport point lies within the chest. The Hand Yangming's point lies next to it, outside this transport point, one cun short of the angle of the jaw. The Hand Taiyang's point lies right at the angle of the jaw. The Foot Shaoyang's point lies below the ear, behind the angle of the jaw. The Hand Shaoyang's point emerges behind the ear, above and resting upon the 'completion bone,' the mastoid process. The Foot Taiyang's point lies beside the great sinews of the nape of the neck, at the hairline.

The pulsating vessel of the yin at the forearm lies at Wuli — this is a point among the five transport points that is forbidden to needle.

The lung unites with the large intestine, and the large intestine is the bowel that transmits and conveys. The heart unites with the small intestine, and the small intestine is the bowel that receives and holds. The liver unites with the gallbladder, and the gallbladder is the bowel of central essence. The spleen unites with the stomach, and the stomach is the bowel of the five grains. The kidney unites with the bladder, and the bladder is the bowel of fluids. The Shaoyang is associated with the kidney, and the kidney above connects with the lung, and so the kidney governs these two viscera together. The triple burner is the bowel of the central drainage-ditch, from which the waterways emerge; it is associated with the bladder, and is the solitary bowel among the six bowels — these are the bowels with which the six bowels are united.

In spring, select points among the network vessels, the spring points, and the intervals between the flesh along the great channels; where the disease is severe, needle deeply, and where it is mild, needle shallowly. In summer, select points among the stream points and the grandchild network vessels, at the surface of the muscles, flesh, and skin. In autumn, select points among the sea points, otherwise following the method of spring. In winter, select points among the well points and the stream points, needling deeply and retaining the needle long. This is the proper sequence of the four seasons, corresponding to where the qi resides, where the disease lodges, and what is suited to the viscera. For cramping of the sinews, needle the patient standing, and the cramp may thereby be resolved at once. For wilting weakness and reversal, needle the patient with the limb stretched out, and relief may thereby be obtained immediately.