Table 4

Traditional functions of acupuncture points*.

Name
Functions/Point Category

San Jiao 5 (Triple Burner 5) – Wai guan
Frees the channels and quickens the connecting vessels, clears heat and resolves toxin, dissipates wind; Luo point of the san jiao channel, confluence point of the 8 extraordinary channels
Gall Bladder 41-Zulin qi
Courses liver and gallbladder qi stagnation, clears fire and extinguishes wind, transforms obstructing phlegm-heat; Shu point, confluence point of the 8 extraordinary channels
Liver 3-Tai chong
Extinguishes liver fire, clears liver yang, discharges damp-heat in the lower burner, soothes liver qi, frees the channels and quickens the connecting vessels; Shu point, yuan source point
Large Intestine 4-He gu
Frees the channels and quickens the connecting vessels, relieves pain and quiets the spirit; Yuan source point
Spleen 8-Di ji
Harmonizes the spleen and rectifies blood; Xi-cleft point
Spleen 6-San yin jiao
Supplements spleen, helps movement and transformation, frees qi stagnation, courses the lower burner; Intersection point of spleen channel, one of nine needles for returning yang
Auricular-shen men
Promotes relaxation, relieves pain
Auricular-kidney
Strengthens the kidneys
Auricular-liver
Strengthens gastrointestinal tract, relieves muscle spasms
Auricular-lung
Relieves pain
Auricular-spleen
Strengthens the gastrointestinal tract, strengthens following a disease

*Adapted from references [10] and [12]

Capodice et al. Chinese Medicine 2007 2:1   doi:10.1186/1749-8546-2-1