Acupuncture Point Combinations

8/13/2019 Acupuncture Point Combinations

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/acupuncture-point-combinations 1/48



CHURCHILL UVINCSTONEAn Imprint(If l ~ v ) C T Limited

1'o.tC Jt f'C'n\y ltc:&S 1m

lllustrottion 0 l l ~ ' Llmlt'-'\t 199$. AU r ~ t \ ' t . ' C l .

No .,._rt o Chi& pubiK-UiCII'I """f bt' ITproductd, J.torcd in a rrtrirv•l ')"llt.'m. t

tQN-miUI"d in an) form or by any m0.11111, C'kdromc. m ~ : d u n i ; ; a l , . p h l ~ o r o p y i n g .r m x d ~ t r l x f w i ~ wnhout either thl' prior p e n n i ~ of thl' u b l ~ o r permlmna ft '.lrl<ttd rop)"in$ in dw Unlled Kmgdom k5UE'd by dw Copyright lk tnJin•

Agency lJd, 'JO lOUfnh.lcn COUll Road, London WIT "LP. t'tmni1 )0R5 may bt JOught•.Hri:Ct.lt from Ebn·W'• tl n lth Scima•' Righu Dtputmmt In f"l'Wadc.lptu.a.. USA. phonr.(•I) 215 ZliS '7169, l.aA. (• I) US 238 n39. e-ttWl e J l h ~ l l t r . . c o m Youmay dso compkW yow «quctt on-line ri.t. lht EbrYitt Sdtnte homrpt.tt

(httyJ/www.-bn·WrC'Ofll). by "CtdiOCN' t S . P f < " ' 1 - ~ w lhm CCbWni•s

1\-rm.mkltu'.

' ' publlllwd 1095Rtpr1ntfd tttr&(t'WiC'f). 1999, 2001. nn.

ISBN0 4-U Q .006 6

BritUl\Library Cata.lOJI,iins in Publk.. tion Data

A M a ~ g u e ~ n'(Of'd for l.hb boQk it a\•a.ibblt' from the- 8riti$h Library.

Llbr.ary of ConAUH C•u loaln& In Publit11tloa Dill.&

A CAfAk)g n_'«lf\1 for thh boot U tViUlahle from lhe Library of Cmgrcst.

Not•MrdKi\.1 know ltdS" t t c u n s t ~ n t l y cl\Meing. A ntw inlorm.aliOI\ btrornt5 1\'llll.abk>.d\lngn in lrtltment. Pfocedllrf'f. fql.llpmenl and the use ofdrugs f r o m t ~ • ' Y TNJ• u.lhor and IIW pubhJhen havl', IS lat AS II is posi SJble, t..iken c•re to tiUUIV tNt l.l'ltintorm.ttiOn ~ t 1 1 e n In this tf:'(l i t t \ ~ U t t 11.ntl up to d a ~ t Howtvtt tudtrt • ' .. roowr.advbt'd 10 conlarm th;tt inlonNtion. y , ._th 0 J ~ uu,(", campiawi .h lhe l&tol l tPJ IIOnUld t l l : n d . u d ~ c f pt11Cti«.

Printed In Chin•C/08

'....OC k:r•••...,.._.,.,,."'. .................I



ontents

fottword xi

Pref;tce xiliHow lhls book Is o r g a n ~ t t d xvNomenclature xviiTOt'K'S xh

Acknowledgements xxSources x;xi

Part I Theoretical printiplN of point curnbination

1 introduction 3

Ue\'clS of a c u p u n c t u ~ 3Aru.lysis, lntul-tk>n and Hnpirlcism 4\ \'estern. Chinese and enetg:) lheorii'5 .a

Acupunch..ln , ~ n c r g y work. mt'ditation ;md counselling 5

2 The ~ y body and the enet'S)' centres

Thi' m ~ r g y body 7The energy centres 8The cncrgy «'-ntres and treatment 9Bala.n(ing the three m31in centres 10

3 The ori&iN of diseases 13

Introduction I JExterior factors 15

l n t ~ r i o r factors 16Ufestyk> factors 16lll.nm arlsl.ng from tf(latmMt 18Acupunctu..re and .eli-help 19

t The ten personality type• 21

lntrodwctionirt 4

The nature of Fire 24Yin and Y ; ~ n g FiN types 2,5

Life lessons of the fi re type 25

Point c:ombiruations 26

£artlr 6

The nature of £.nth 26Yin and Yang Earth tytX S 27

Ufe lessons o the F.arth types 28Point combin.uions 28

Mtt l 28

The n;aturc of Mctal 28

Yi1\ 11nd a ~ Mtt.,l types 30

U(e I(· >SOns Ol thc Mt-tal typt's 31

Point comb\nalions 31

Wa ter 3Th<' nMun. ,.,, Water 32Yin Jnd Y.mg W3ter types 32

l ife lessons oi the Water types 33Point oonlbinations 33

1100<1 .JJl 'h,• ruuuru of \'\'ood 33YI n :md Y:t.nS Wood t)'p<'$ 34

li fe lessons of the Wood types 35Point combinatiOO$ 35

S MaJntaining t h ~ bal.al\te of \ in and YJng i

Deficient Yin and Deficient Ya:'lg 37

De6dency of Yin in modt'tn sodNy 3i'T : ~ ~ t m c n t of Dclicl('nt Yin 38

Yin .md Y,l.llS ptrsonlllit)' types 39F .tlUlc and male 39

Children .1 nd Yin-Y.mg 40

Yin-Yang a_d the Jgelng proctSS 40lh>atment of Oc:Jldelt Yang 40

Yin- Yang and thf four imb.llanc:es 41

6 D e d ~ c y . Exct ss, Stagnation .utd lrreguluity 43

The four m._,.in Qi imb.dane'E'S 43Oth t'T i m b l c C S 44

Combinations of the four main imb..tl..lllCCS 45Cl"'s.si6c.1tion of the OrgJn syndromts 45

\ '

Copyrghl<>d n •IP



ntroduction 1

LEVELS OF ACUPUNCTURE

Acupu.ncture can oper.lte nt thrt C o in levels:

symptomssyndromesindividuats.

SYMPTOMS

This book is not concerned \\;th acupuncture at the first level, the treatment o

symptoms, unless the underlying causes are .;d$0 considert-d. Jt is assumed that the

reader is familiar with the treatment of meridian problem$. y the usual o; mbination

o Ah Shi points, loot points and distal poi.nts on the me-rid. a.ns affected. The refore

there are no lists of points g-i\'en sep.uatt.> y for purely local problems such as ankle

probl(?ms, knet" problems, elbow problems and so on. Also there are no lists of points

given to treat symptoms, s1ncc the lowest level of treatment in this book is the $ccond

level. the tre.ltment of ors-m S) Stcm syndromes.

SYNDROMES

ln Part 11, point combinations are gi\'en for the organ system S)'ndromes as,socio.tedwith each of the main acupuncturl p in ts. For example. for SP.6. point rombin.ation>arr gh•en for nine main S)'ndromes, associated with physical or psychologiCJlproblems.

Part III rontaJns point combinations for the organ syndromes associatl'CI \\ith someof tht' diseases commonly treated by acu puncture. For \ x·a mple, for asthma. 10

syndromes o1re diS(l.Jssed.

INDIVIDUALS

Th most { f f { C t i v ~ acupuncture treatment is done when the point combination istailored to meet the specific needs of an individual. Point combin.J.tions arc given forsome of the lifestyle factors in Chapter 3 and for the 10 psychological types ln Chapter

3

Copyrghlcd m lcr



~ 1.1

4. and lor ' 'arious psy<hd<>g1<al dl50<d<>rs In Chop <'J

HowC\'\.'T. these combi."lations 01re only guidelines .1.nd

may be nuxlificd or change d. acanding to individual

requm"1nent. Acupuncture at t h ~ IC\'t"l or tht: indi\'idual is

b.lS('d on ,) detJiled undcrst.mdjng or the pcrson;dity type

tmd life problems. and o k ~ a of empiricism,

anai)'Si" and iruuition.

ANALYSIS, INTUITION AND EMPIRICISM

Tllc mCJ'i't dft-ctive "--ombinations .ue crt..'.tted wh'"-n each ofthe th ree r.,C\I tles - empiriasm. -'Julysis IJnd intuHio are well develop.--d and in b..tlan« wtlh eJch otheT.

Et>1PIRICIS\I

Th is is the practic.JI, down·to·ra rlh (.lculty o tTial and

t.'rror. Tht.' practitioner hears that cerlldn combinations olrt

C C \ . < ~ ond tries them uur w fhHI which ones arecrt'cctlvc in different situations. The pmctltiOt\er m.ly not

• w ~ any nnalyticJl or in tuitive t . 1 n d i n g of why the

comblndtions are s u c ~ but hM simply dctcnnin('(i

thu. through h - p t ' > f i ( • and obscr\',Uion.I emp•ncism is not babnced wi th intUition and anot1 ·

y:'li). it can t a.sily lecKl to J nl«hJnl(al .1ppro.lch to

drupuncture, \o\hkh ignon.S the < . ' t d ~ of tlw patk-nt and

conc:t"ntrates on tC"mporar)' c ~ s by rchM"'nS sy mp-

toms Howe\'er, empiricism is vit.slly importont to bring

intuition itnd y s i s down to earth and root t h ~ o m inreality. It can be easy to confuse tniC' intuition wi th

fo1nt.llt)' and -.:uphoria, .tnd it cJn be easy to bl so

prl'()('('Upil.'d lVith the in ttdlectudl d ~ o > g l C < ' Of a treatmentstri.\tegy th.1 t its effecth·eness bet"Oih("S of secondary

1 m p o r w n On the o:hcr hand, in the yea.rs of

praelicc, it c.-n l1e t>a5y to bt•ronlt: so confused bytht"' 'ftic.al compk-(jty as to lose ,til ~ 1 f - c o n ( t d e n llS 1

pr.lClitionn.

ANALYSIS

Perhi'IJ>" tlw g r e . m ~ t m p h a in profe-ssional acupunc-

ture tril ining in the Wt51 is on the development of tht

a n a l ~ · t k . a l (, Nh)•. Sludents spend a long, timt In memo-

rizing infont\lltion .;md in kam ing the thooretk•l pnnd·

pies of Ch1ncsc medicine. It i.'i absolutely nC."Cl.'ISilr")' tholl

students lt'dm 6nd un derstand the theory J.S thorough )*

as possible, othem·ise 1hcy c.1nnot diffcrentl, te tho syn·

dromcs, or und('rstnnd how to d C'Sign d fcctlvc pointcombinations for c m ~ · v ( . ' $ . fi owl"\'Ct, O\'CI'l'mplmsi.s of

the analyt1cJI lrtculty c-a n lead to the pr.lcti11oocr i l h ~ ob\.'Coming 106t in a fascin:dns , . orld ol throry. or ber om ·

ing limited by n t a l slr\. :SS and cunhuton. n is can

r e d u ~ t the .abilil)' to tmlpdthae with the patitmt ~ n d tusensib,·e to then f{lltlinss and ne<'ds. H can also le-ad, in

some CilHS. to a nk."'fft.t1 rigidity bordering on l"rwtkis:m.in which the f ~ ~ Art' brn: to fit the theory. ro1ther th.an

the theory rT\;ldC" to fit the f.lcts..

Most illness in thl• \\'t-st i5 rciJll.-d to cmolhma1 imbi.11·<'ln c:cs. HunMn cmolions arc flu id, d to the knowt.,.-dgeof the author, no intellectua l scheme has cvt.•r been made

thal is comprehensive enough an d flexible enough to

de5eribe thc1n Sclllsfactorily. The faC\Jity Cf Intuition \lnd

the ability to l l and pcrtei\"f' the ( motions o t h C ~with s')'mpathy 11nd scn.sitivity, is thcrdore inv.lluablc to

the p r a c t i t i o n ~ r

1:-. TUmo-.:

During J ronsult.1tion the pr.1ctitioncr m.l)' hct 12 dcJr

fee or perception or the a t i e n t mo tiOilill stnt<.•. or oftht ovNrtll p.ltH•rn o their life. SimliMiy, during the

treatme nt. th e pmctitiot,cr may set a ;Irons fl-cling to \ ll'C

a certain point combinJtion, whkh then proves to beeffective. T h 14; intunion.

lntuitlon •snot a subsbtute foe a n . : ~ s l s $ it is comp le·

mentJ.ry to i t Intuition and an.tlysi.s em be checknl

ag;tinst ••ch other. •nd bo<h must be pnwt<l b)• empori·osm OthCf\\'l.W u ts 'C <rY eb ' f01r th<- p r < ~ c t l t K \ n f f i to

confuse true intuttion \\'i th f a n t a s y an d t\ilh their o ~ l \emotional p l ~ Intuition is a_n ability '"''hkh neNs

fong and rar('ful training, and it is hopl'd ahat in lhe

future.•, th is C4n increasingly inrorpor.ltcd into acu ·puncture course-,. It is espt.>Oally important to intt-gratc

the development of intuition with the facuhil.s of ,tnalysisand cm p1rids m.

WESTERN, CHINESE AND ENERGY

THEORIES

Professaon.t1 a c u p u n c t u ~ trainings in the \Vf'Cil s\·ner,allyteach point rombinaticm in tcnns or the lht'Oretic.tl

principles of Chinese medicine. J-lowcn•r. th t•re arc ltvo

other throrrtic •l syst.;-ms hat arc lnc.'Tt'asingly be ing used

C rY'f hi m



~ ; o 1 2

~'' '

Chinesemedicine

as a basis for point S<'lcction: these \lTC the systems ofW c s t ~ m ml"did ne and energy healing.

WESTERN MEDICINE

There is .m incr('.l :>ins a wareness of relationship of

acupuncture poin s to the .s(.-gmental orga1tizotion of tlwbody. i\ Ctlpuncture points can treat not only problems of

chc dcnn.Homc Jn d mvotomf;' in which the\• are located,' .

bu t also problems of the organ systems regulated by that

pair of spin,\1 nerves and assot·ia cd autonomic:

B'I Si i.a. Poin t combinat ions C<ln bl?: on this basis.

For example, CV.5. BL 22 .1nd BL SJ crul be combined for

urinary frequency and Nck p.J in al Lht- level of the fi rstlumbar vcrtcbr.l, or CV. 13 and ST.20 for sour regurgita 4

lion rand C'pig.lstric pain.

EN ERGY HE LING

This syst<'m. w h labelled energy work', healing·. Qi

Gong.. or wh.1tc ...cr. is based on the ability of the

pmctHjoner to perceive the encrt;y Oows within th e body

of the p(ttient. an d to modify or dif(>(t them in ont cr to

rebalance the energies and effLoct healing.The b.1sic conc('pt is that the solid mntcri.11 of the

hu man body is pttrmeated and surrounded by d field of

enCrg}'. within which there an• major and minor qflows, corresponding in to the i.'lcupum:turc clli.'lnnd

system. The ccntr:ll axis of thc.-sc flows is constituted

by the circulation of energy th rough the Governor

Conception channel S)'Stem. The lhcor)' propOS('S th illupon this <c ntml vertical .txis nn: loculc..-d the cncrgy

('(Jnt res. or chakras. which 31'(> maJOr o c < ~ l point:s orn ~ y dow. Each C01.'f'SY centre hoas its spcdflc functions

and pathologies. so thdt point combinations can be bdsed

on the G V or CV points located over th e affected ~ n ( f g ycent res.

For I.'Xlmplc, th e Thro,u c."Cntrc govems ..xnnmu.nic.t·

tion, and the Heart centre go\ ems the ftow of feelings in

d ose n > l a CV.2l and CV . J7 can ocombined for ft.'<'lings of constriction and djscomfor t in

O O U ( . ' T I O t - . 5

throat and chest. associated to stress within n-lalion·

s hips .

SUMM RY

Tilere are obv;ous ovetlaps between the e m . s of

Chin l"St' m ~ k Wes tern medicine and n e r g ~ healing.Th e tmditionJ.I functions of the GV, CV and Hack

Transporting poin ts. bear clos.e < ~ t i h to b()th \ '\(-"St·

em segm(>ntal theory an d to u concept of energy

centres. Th< au thor f ~ e l s that the futurl development ofclCUpUO(tu rc ma)' lie in .11l in tcrp .J)' and integration

betwee-n the r ~ e syi>tems.

ACUPUNCTURE, ENERGY WORK,MEDITATION AND COUNSELLING

Tire I O inl rombimrtious iu tlt is (}(k>k arc maiuly bosr:d ont1uo prinCiJIII'S of Cltiltl Sf ttmlidtrr.. Howtt er·. tlr.- ptmu l

t•mplltHis of the autlror is on stlecJing poim combi1lati()tJ$bastd Qu the i rlt>rgy centrt'S, so tlral nc upll ncture c:au be

rtodily comb iwtl willr m e work and nt t dilflticm.

For cxampiC'. for depression associated with D ~ f i c i ~ n of

Kidneys and Heart, CV.4, CV 17 Rf might be used as hebasi" of the trea tment, to stn?ngth'-"" thl' Dan Tian and

Heart t'nCtg)• centres. Th l Extra channel pair of SP..l +PC.6 could be d d to c m p h r ~ s i z e thl effect Thepr<Ctitio:'ler can then l se the techniqul'S of 'energy work'

or Qi Gong. to enhance th e acupun cture tre<'ltmen t, by

focusing t.'flcrgy at the: two De ficient cen tres, and bydirecting energy between the pai_s of n("t ' dlcs. e.g. be ·twt>(>n SP.4 and C \1.4 , or between CV.4 and CV.17. In

addition. the patie nt can then be gh•en Qi Gong ormeditation exercises to strengthen and balance the af·fcctcd energy C<'ntres, to begin a p n : : ~ e ; c s s of pcroonalchange and self· healing.

lu litis systtm. n commo11princip .- of treatmmt n,J(mliuates

u ~ u m O i n . > point coml1iuaticms, .-trergy work audmcditatitm.

Qi Gong ~ or meditations and vlsualizations given

to the p11 ticnt C.Jn be made s p<:cific for in dividual p e r sctlily trpe or even org.1.n system y n r o m ...s. For c)(amplc,

for the syndrome of Stagnant Lvng Qi assodatcd with

suppressed grief, heavy smoking and bronchitis, the

meditution c.1n fOC\1.$ em the centre o( the chest, use the

theme of opcnh\g, mo\'ing and cleansing. The energy of

the breath can be visu 0l li7.ed as spa rkling b right white

light, the colou_ associated with the Metal c-lemen t.

Counselling and psychotherapy can be ink-grated into

this system. wh n the practitioner is trained and ex-(Wri ·

<'need in these modatitics, Jn d n.-hen appropriate to th{'

Copyrghled m ler



6 THWRETICAI. P l F S OF POINT COMBINATION

pat ient s nct.-ds. lndc:t. \1, the Ju thor believes that c.mc of

the strongest dcv( lopmencs of acupunctur(• in the future

may be in the tll. xiblc combination with energy work..

meditation and counselling. This relates the concept of

the energy ody a nd eners>• centres dealt with in the next

c h r ~ p t e r

Copyrghlcd m ler



he energy body and the

energy centres

THE ENERGY BODY

THE GENERAL PERSPECTIVE

All objects have as-pects, that of apparently soUd mattE. T and that of energy. This

applies to 1.111 objects, whether a table, a human being or a galaxy. For rut objl.-cts, the

solid matter is penneated and surrounded by a fi( ld of energy. Th<' two aspects areinseparable, and arc two facets of the s.amt' phenomenon.

The entire universe is single continuous field of energy, with areas of varying

density. the densest areas being perceh•ed as solid matter. AU m.1terial objel'CS arc

therefore in connection with each other via th t' underlying field of energy. A human

body can be scc.n as an isolated material object. scpJ.ratc from and unronnech.•d to theobjects that surround it. Alternatively. a human body can be seen as an energy field,

which is connected with and i n . . ~ p : t b l c from the energy fields of other bodies, and

the larger energy field of the universe.\ /hen individuals identify \•.rith the o n < . ~ p t of th e body as a separate material obja. t,

they can fec1 isolation. alicni\tion and fear. h ~ : s c are the perception.-; of t gP. the lowerself. When indi\•iduals cxperit'nce the underlying unity bctwc. 'L'l\ thentselvt.•s and all

life, they can experience a deep feeling of peace, love and understanding. The

conscious awareness of the univers.1l life foi"C'e manifesting through an individual can

be collcd the higher solf.

THE HUMAN ENERGY BODY

The human energy body, sometimes called the etheric body, or cthcric we b, pcnncatt.'Sand surrounds the wlid physka.l body. t is the 'lum of the energy fields of tht>individual cells, tissues and organs, acting in coordination. t reflel:ts the activity of the

physical body. the thoughts and the: C'motions.

The acupuncture points and the acupuncture channels can be seen as an interface

between the physical and e-nergy b o d i ~ s . having aspects o ead1. The so-called t ncrgy

centres. or chakras, represent central areas coordination of energy flows with in

the energy body. The m . ~ i . n energy C{o:ntres are along the central vertical axi-s of the

body, and are each usually 3Ssociat(-d with an ~ d ) r i n e gland. a group of spinalneTves and an autonomic nt>rve plexus. In other words, mtb."'l of the energy centres

correspond to the segmental orga.ni7.ation of the body and the ncr..,ous system.

2

Copyrghlcd m Jer



8 1 l i O R ~ ICAL PkiSCIPLES OF ' O I ~ ' T COMJI...;AnO.t.:

TirE ENERGY CENTRES

FUNCTIONS

·nw<.·xnct number, location and runctlun o ' the energy

centres is a nwttcr of opinion, o r J X ~ r a p s it is morC'

uccura lc to s.1y Lhat differe nt aut hors cm pha b:e different

~ S f ' . \ . 1 ur the same phenomt>non. lhc pt'r'Spetlh' e

.-.doptcd in this book rcJatcs t the lontion .md lndi\'idu.aJ

functions or the acupuncture points 0'1\ the ConC<"J>tiOn

and Covt':mor ch.a.nnels.

C#n tN

' ''f'l.ArtCewt

c ...... CVlt> sptrltu.\1 U i', biLlnc. ol tlw spmt in t i l ~p h y • k ; ~ l>ooJy t'IMCJon, .end mind

Ornw rln t ins i l d o m , ek.•.:.r l l'l'llt'un .J.Lum.• ufmtmriCin and a l ~

r o . ~ CV.22- 2J .:omnlunkalion of l d l : •nd r t • U n g ~ .crwth·i:y

Hf'MI (.'V.I7 lao.C , c u m ~ i a n&.;. . l'kw' cv.u-u stn -'1:1\'"f 10 \"''l'ttdONIS lnfh:n'lt:'f'S.

wM\...S . . , tiW f1»

.. ..... C\1. 12 ~ r ~ t whtchft php«:.al~ a r n ~ m u lOM\ TYn CV...I-6 Sklr. and ~ ben ot cna& kw

tk ph\ l Ol •ftll ft'57 bodwt, foc•tpusn t: , ffiO'V\"I'l'lt•nl . t t ~ t h •l'ld ''111

~ p n A t u c t t ' CV.2-J cre.uivlt)' •nd p l t ' » i o n w throogh$t:OO. u :d r ~ - p m . J U ( ' t i o n

1\:rintAICV I

~ u r . i \ a l ,gr,..undl"8

l fthu •1-int '" thf'k i i J i)(l\1) , (\,lnf\..-.,'t.)n ( i lhf' bOd)'

with "--nlt,;h'll o Ihe """ h

Nine en•rgy 001tres are listed in T•ble 2.1. althoughthere are h ~ Al oo. the asp«t of the ~ t t C S on th..,

\'C. ''ltr.Jl su.r(.xc has bcc:n emplu.sizt <l, .,Jlhough the em·tres all v ~ • ~ p e c t s on the dors.ll surlart. a$ )hQwn in

Figure 2 2 and Tabfe 2.2 larer.

THE ENERGY AXIS OF THE BODY

11wCU\ l'nlDr and Co n« 'ptlon chn nn t.•ls llWt.'l Jt CV I and

are ronnected bctwcC1\ CV.26 .lnd CV.24, completing oa

cin. Uit or cn<'rgy Oow lhrou:gh the midlines of the front

and Nck o( rhe head and body shown In Figure 2. 1.

DORSA L AND VENTRAL ASPECTS OF THE CENTRES

The t;nergy «"ntres lie "'ithin the body i1nd o w ~ bothdof'S.31 .and ventral ilSpt. Cts as shown in Figure 2.2.

CV. l

Usually. the dorwJ aM vmlr3.1 olSJX'd.S are loc.ated at

appro.,inwtely the ume le"el but the Oan Tt.n t t ntre lsa notable e ~ w p t i o n The vmtral aspect is .11 tht level of

CV.4 -6, whilst the dor'Soll aSp l d iJ higher. at the level o

CV.4 . The run<Uons of the dors.1l and vffitral t15pc<ts are

simil ar, but the d O r S ~ 1 1 aspects generally have 1 more sfunction :.nci MO mon, related to I problcmt, whilstthe ven tral nsp<.'<'tt sencraiJy h.;we a more Yin (un tlion

and ~ r e more r c l a to o n a l probl\.'mS.Table 2.2 shows th(' correspondence in lontJon of the

d o ~ l et-ntrcs to the Go\·emor. inner Bladder o.nd outer

Bl•dd•r lint points. Titere is a s ront; functlonAI <om:·spondenro belween lh• <entns and th«t thlt'O ltn o

points. For .,._,mplo. the dors.tl DAn Thn <mlrt , CV.4,BL23 and BLS2. arc o11l conccmcd ~ i t h thC' IS\'Dkl.Jbilityol:uored entrgy, d r i \ and ambition. .tnd the Nlana

betwtoen ear and the '"·til,

While there it a ~ t r o n g to m.Spondcncc between the

vt-nlrl1l ccntn.-:; and the Conception points, ~ is not

such a s tror\g relationship be twet·n the Kldn4. y and

Stomach points these ven tr.:tl ccntl't'i, os there is\xotwecn tht: doi'S.ll centres and the Dlttd der polnts.

POINTS AND CE.'IITRES

The energ)' C\."ntres. the ch.lru\cls .tnd th<' xupunctUI'C

pointS 4ft tl1J p..HI of the cnef};y cimJ ation :i)':$1Cnt or lhc

body. Tht- dcupuncture pi.)in tS i l l \ located near the

smfaro, and c ; ~ n affect bol:h the loc.1l supcrtkin l levels or

C py I 1 m ·n



CV.lO

- - ~ ,_ . : . : - : \ Y n

.C V . l1----------CV.: l '

,; I \

,CV.6 \

/

c;v.• I

- - - - - - - 1

- - _ ,, /CV. l

-------- ---------

I/ C J.

\ ; \t , £

I

CV • C,BL. JS \ ----------8t. . l1 \ - ....

, ICV.J

_. C J

2

CV. 1 CV . l

the skin and muscle and the inner org.1ns. The cn(.>rgy

centres are hx-..ncd d t...pt>r in the body and are not so

much concerned with th e supcrfidal layers. as with th (.>

internal balance of energy.

CEl\ITRES AND SEGMENTAL ORGANIZATION

ln Westem medicine. the body is Sf.••n to be organized on

a segmental basis. F""ch S('gtnent consists of a vertebr>l,

a pair of spinal nerves and th e associated dermatome and

myotome. There is considt:rabte ov erlap bctt•.rccn th edermatomes of ronse<UHve spinal nerves, just as there is

overlap in the functions of consecutive Go\'C'mor t:t_nd

Bladder points on the bdd:..The (>nergy centres and the acupuncture points 01ppea r

to have a dose correspondence in function to spinalnerve> in whose segment they occuJ. A pair o( spinal

THE ENEI{GY 80t)Y AND THE ENERGY Cf.f<\\'fRf.S 9

Cenlrt cv GV Below lnnu 81. Outer Dt.pol.nt point Vtflt 'bU. point polnt

( roh·n CV20..,. Y ~ r l t.ingThro.ll CV2J GV. I 5 C.l

CV.22 GV. IJ C7Hur t CV.l7 GV. II T.S Bl- S Bl..HSol.u P t:,VS CV.14-15 (;V,9 T.7 01.17 81..46Spli't"' CV.I2 c:v.6 T.ll 8L20O.m Ti;tn CVA-6 cv .. 1.,2 Bl- 2J 61,..52R.-producriw• CVl- ) m id · .t rUO I -

J . ' ~ n n e - (. V.I ( ;V, l t:p of coayx -

nerves may influence not only the skin an d musdes of

their segment, but also organ neare 't to it. In addilion

to thi > physical function, the centres and the acupoints

arc s ~ to h..lvt l:Hccts o n the mind and lhc emotio n$,

d e p e n d ~ n t on the segment in which the)' ..ue located. For

example. BL.23 .1nd thP. Da n Tian centre c<an n O u e n c ~ theemotional a >"FX'Ct ol fc.'lr and the mental aspoo of focus.:.-d

concentration on soals.

CENTRES AND AUTONOM IC PLEXUSES

lJ e cent res may be linked 10 s ~ i f i c plexuSt..--s of the

au tonomic L ~ v o u s system. For example, the Solar ~ u scentre may be a5SO(iated with the <:O<'liac plexus. Til( '

v<Jrious effects of Solar Plexus centre over-stimulation

upon diffcrent organ systems may be mC'diat('d partly

by the scoond.l ry plexuses conm.-ctcd with the coeliac

plexus. For e.xampl e. t h ~ phrenic plexus to thed iaphrag1n,the hepatic ple>ous to the liver, the gastric plexus to the

stomach, the splenic plexus to the spleen, the suprarenal

piE. xus to the adren(ll glands. the plc,.us to theKidneys, and so on.

CENTRES AND ENDOCRINE GLANDS

The exact relationship bch.,.·(ocn the cnL'rgy centres and

the endocrine glands is not yet clear. Some rclationshipsarc more ob vious. :;uch as tlw Rep r<>d uctive Lentre with

the gonads, or the Sple('n « ntrc with th(> pancre.u.Othe rs MC not clear bcc<1usco ol uncertainty about the

functions ot the cndoerine glands, fo r example the pine.tland the thymus. The standard assodt'ltions 3t(• shown in

Table 2.3.

THE ENERGY CENTRES AND

TREATMENT

Diagnosis can include of imbalanc t :s wi thin

Gopyrghlcd m Lc



10 THF.ORETICAL PRir\CII'l,.E OF POINT

T.ablt 2.3 C ; . f \ oUl;l. ('nd<X'finl• g1Mids

Centr <'

CrownBrow'fhn). l l

H t:oO II'I$o) ,tr J"k .):US

Sp "'"'O.an r"1nRcpl'(.-dtxtinPerbca.l

Cb.nd

i l \ ~ :pi uit.uy

11\)•mid

lh)•mus

.,dftn..tlsJ\.l fiO( ' >

. ld:t-nAI'I

gon.td ;adre UI$

and b\'h.,·e(•n the ('nergy Ct'flln.""'S . Tre.ltmenf can thi n(ocus on the rorn"t"tion of tht.. 'Se imb3lancei, wheth er the

treJtment is acupuncture, Qi Gong, meditation. or c:oun·selling and psychotherapy.

EN ERGY CENTRES Al\iD ACUPUNCTURE

The Co,·cmor a.nd Conception chann els fonn the verticalaxis for the energy circulation of the body. l11ey c\redos<'ly linked with the o t h ~ F_xtra channels and with thf:'

Kidneys. The GV and CV points can be used together

with the Extra channel Opening points. as the basis of <

system of acupuncture focusing on the en€'rgy centres.

£xmnplt

A t'M n of 4 h:.d a condition t' f cold h.tl'ldS an d f<'t't that wasaggra\oa ted by an>.iery and 1mpro\·OO by x e : r i s e His pulse wash indf>tl"<<. \rrttular a 11d nt<)\'i ng. 1'he 0 1 g n w;, .:; th:•t hls

attt"mptS to control hiS anxid)' had r - ~ . ' \ > n t r o l his hc.m

(unction 4100 thus impair.:d petipht_>ral dxulation. \Vheo both

the m . x i e Md (':l)ntrol wt<n: r c l a ; o . ~ . - - d as i.n o y < ' l b work ot

CXt trisc, the ci rcttla l.ion impro\'t'd.1l l ( point r o m b ; : ~ t was b . l ~ - d on ,_trcngthcning the

Dan fian centre to twcrcome e o ~ r , .3nd c.-a iming th-e S o l ; ~ rPlexus ttn trc to reduct' llnxictr .1nd his control or hc.n tfu nction. The Opening points on the Thoroushf.lro Jnd YnUnk chaorK'Is wm• also tl.Sf._'<l to rf:'SUiiatc c ~ nbal;m«>:

CV.4 Rf CV.14. PC.6. SPA E M

ENERGY CENTRES AND QI GONG

During nn t ~ r u p u n u r e tr("atmcnt, the p rilctiticmcr can

consciously direct energy to a particular ct n tre, or be·tween pairS of n . x > d In example just given,· the

practitioner could vi.suJiize energy flowing th rough t_hc

practitioner to stre1\gthen the pa tient's Dan Tia n c;t.:n tn.·,or rould direct €'ners..v betwee-n p<llrs of needles, such as

SP.4 Jnd CV.4, or CV 14 and PC .6. The

techniques of Qi Gong ca_n the e(fectiveness of

c u p u n c treatment.

ENER GY CENTRES AND MEDITATION

Meditation te<hn.iqucs c.:tn trc,tt Dcftci{"ncy, E>.xcss, Stag·nation or n g u l a r i t ~ o energy in individual centws. andc.;m also improve the b.ll.tnce bc WCI:>n the .:entrcs. In th('example just given, p.:lticnt could ((l('uS on the O.m

Tian centre .md the enersy centres around Kl. l on thesolt':S of th e ect. Th l S<' m<'ditntion ('X('rci.scs. done

whether lying, sitting. st.lnding or w ~ l k . i n g . can help toca lm anxiety, and bring the aw.-reness away from the

head J.nd chest, .md into the ph)'Sical body as a \\'hole.

ENERGY CENTRES i\1\D COUNSELLING

Counselling and psychotherapy c.1n be focused onknown energy cen tre irnbolan ce:s. O vc.•rJct h•ity of the

Solar Plexus centre c.1n indic.lle owrsensitivity 10 ('mO ·

tionJ I inn uences, .1nd deep ins«uri ty, ;) t and anxiety.There may be (€'ar of losing control o silua.tions, emotions

or mind. Counselling and psychotherapy com be com·bincd wi1h energy work, mnssJge or acupuncture, ditcetlyon the imbalanced centre, or indire ,tly via another centre.In the example earlier, i CV. J.;; is too sensitive. or if t hepatient is too fearful to app i'O<lch energy blocks. CV .4 c..lnbe st r(•ngthen('(( first, to give the patien t the calmness an dstreng th to O\letCom e fear.

BALANCING THE THREE MAIN CENTRESTrainins in Qi Gong or meditation wh ich is b.t scd on th eenergy c::cn tn. .s, c:;.an be divided into thrcc stages or levels:

basic I l'entre

inte:rmcdiat ('

.advant..'«l3 cen tres

9 t-"t'lltres.

The initial bask st.tge focuses on one centre, usually the

Dan Tian centre, in order to take attention aw.1y from the

head and up per body. so tha t the pentOn becomes more

grounded in the physical body. Once perSon has

embodied this basic training they can progress to cxcr·dses tha t strengthen each of the three centres and bal.m1."t'them ,,,..ith each othe-r.

THE THREE CENTRF.S

Th e th ree centtes chosen are usually the Brow centre, in

the middle of the head, the Heart C(>ntre in the mlddtc o flhc chest. \'lnd the D.1n l ian centre in the mjddlc of thelower abd onwn . E.lCh of the-se three <entres t:an representdiffC'rent facultie$ or n ~ g i e s a ~ t Sh(nVn in ~ , > 2.4.

Copyrghlcd m er



l lu

H u rt

Body

y' n .fngC\'.)7

CVA

wbd<>mcomp.ueions:Z?ngth

ft'<'lingwns.l:ion

) M ~intuitionempi:ridsm

The initial stage of all Qi Gong or meditation progr-am ·mcrS is to rcl.tx deeply and experience t profound innerpeace. ln lhe Three Centre exercise. the nex t stage is 1<.1

focus attention on th t> body centre to ex perience a feelingof inner strength and energy. The th ird stagl is to bring

the attention lt') the Heart Ct'Tltrc .md develop a feeling or

compassion and peace. The fourth stage is to bring theattention to the Hclld centre and experience a feeling of

openness and light. In the fina l stage, the at tention

returns to the Body centre. to bring awareness back to

r a c t i c o ~ l rea lity.When the three centres are strong and in harmony,

there is a balance between analysis. int uition and pr<'lcti·cality. In other words, comp.usion is bat..mccd wi1h

wisdom and strength.

COORDINATION WITH ACUPUNCTURE

TREATMENT

• f th('t'C is ' cakncss in the Dan Ti;m centre, CV.4 CJn be

TilE EN *CY li()O'i A:-J'D TilE ENERCY CENTRES 11

combined with points such as St.36 and K1.3, \\'hich

strengthen the energy of the physico1t body and ,,lso~ 1 b i l i 1 e the emotions.

• Jf the will is wcJk, then KI.7 c.m be add<'d with nC<'dlc

and moxa. H thc.•rc is much fear, then SP.4 a nd PC.6 can

be added wi th Even method.• Jf the-re is weakness in the Hc.ut «ntrc. then theSour(e

points LU.9 and l fT.7 can be nHnft 1r«d and GV. l t dOd

BL 15 may be added. If th•re is Stagnation of Qi in theHeart centre, then lU.7 i'lnd HT.6 C;:'J.n be used instC'\Id

with Reducing method.

• If there is ,, weakness in the ~ a r t Cl ntr'e' with mental

cxhilustion and poor concentration, BL L Bl.IO and 8L62

..:an be rcinfortt'ti.

• f there is mental doudinPSS, restlessnt."SS and oonfu·

slon. then Sf.S. ST 40 nnd ST.45 can be ust.-d with Even

method.

These art" just a few examples to i usttate how a n 1 p u . n cture combinations can tx integrated with Qi C.ons and

mt::ditation exercises. Howcvt"r, a word of cnution: Q i

C.t<mg and meditation exercises should not be Utught to

patients unless pt7tcritioner.; all." themseh·E. S trained and

expe rienced ln ~ i r use.

Copyrghlcd m ler



he origins of diseases

INTRODUCTION

In Chint'SC medicine the origin41ting faetors of d i s c a ~ df'C said to be cotlstitulion, the

Exterior or climatic fa1."tOts, the Interior or emotlon<ll f.1ctors, ,md the fat:tors that are

nc.-ithcr Exterior nor Jnterior, often CJllcd factors of lifC'Style. HoWC\'t'r, in the discussionhere the origin of disease has been put in a brooder philosophical con:ext., which is

based on the concept of the high\.'1' self.

TH HIGH R SELF

The universal for«', the spirit, manifests through c.-.ch individual human bcing .1s

the hight.•r self, altcmativdy talk-d the inner scJ£. Oy getting in contact with lhc

cnergi( S or tht. h igher S<'l f, a person can ~ O t n L at o ~ with thl:>ir own Ji • fore( •md

with thnt of others and oil th ings. Wh<'n there is ., communion with the hiSh<'r self.

the individual can feel a dl'Cp in ner sourc:c of peace. strength, love and wisdom. When

a person lives in tune \\'ith the impulses of the higher self. the life force can unfold

through the uniqucnC'Ss of th<'ir individual personality in harmony with the unfoldin&

of olhc.•-rs and the world around them.

TH LOWER SELF

As each in dividual is bom into this life. the ego_ the lower self. is <.'reated as the

conglomerate of selfish fears and dt.-sircs, and negative patterns of thought, emotion

and bchavjour. The ego C : . < . ~ other people a nd the world as a threat to i s cxistcntec, or

as a means to the- gratific.·ation or its sel fish desirl'S.

THE OPPOSING PULLS

Through the constant interplay of th<.• higher and lower sc lv< s th(' p c r s o n ~ l i tdevelops. The t \ 0 SC'Ive:s represent oppos.itc but complementary pulls upon the

conscious mind. The higher self is an experience of unity. and drl opf:nncss to other

people, tO the world and to lif e. This can fccl \ Cry threatening to the low<'f self, to

which openness represents vulnerability. The lower self is an C ) ( ~ r i c n c c o .scp..u.ll.ion.

13

3

Copyrghlcd m lcr



14 THEORf.TID t PRIXC IPLES 01' POI NT C O M B I . ~ A l i O \

o r llpartncss. £rom other pt'Oplc and the world. Tile lower$(']( represents d u t ~ l i 1 y - m(• a.nc.l them· or • t best. 'usa.nd them .

THE l'AIN OF SEI'ARATION

When there is a loss of contact with h ~ ; > ent>rgies of thehighrr self, there is pilin and o. deep inner diSSiltisfactio n

and lonsing lns cad nf the pc.il C\·, strength, lo"c and

wi..;dl)m of t h ~ inn<'r sel f. lht."r(' let an Inner rcstles.sncs.-;

and unease, a feeling of powerlessness. fcilf and weak·nt'SS, or o hatrt<d ,"lnd confusion.

THE COM PENSATIONS

People try in many ways to compensate for the p::.in of

separation from the highc·r self. SornL' of the many fonnsof compcns..1tion •ue:

food fanl(' drogsposs<>ssions overwork illnessmon t y knowkodg(' ins;mitv

$I X as.t:eticism t.rime

pow('r religion crueltyf;mt.lsy

T h e . . ~ < : C : O n l J X n ~ t i o n ~ may bL·c.::omc cld diction.s. i l is only am.1tter of d(>f;rre. However, com pcns.Hions and addlc

tiOI\S c.mnot 00 SJ.t1sfied by mor<' of the item, only byre-establishing con tact with the t ~ r st'lf.

THE OR IGIN OF DISFASE

Most illness in modern socil'ty results from the < ~ c k ofcontact wilh the..• e n e r g i of the spirit. Instead of lovt•,

there is fear and hatrE.'d; of Sf.>lf, I f others. <md of theworld. The $ickncss. of :Society results from the deep

unhappinC ioS of individu.1b, (rom the sense o isolation

and alicnou ion of the lower self.

BEYOND DISEASE

Many timl".s, d isease Cdll givt .1 wa ming thJt the re is an

underlying life problem th.\ t needs solution. Often.. the

iUness will subside if the p<"rson perceives the problem

ilnd makt..>S the t ~ changt•s in their pat em s of

thought and b t ~ h a v l o u r('aligning their pcrsonality withthe posith1e energies of the higher sel f, and allowing the

O\.g3tivc p..ttlems e,.lf t."gQ to fildc away.Very often in modem SCX'iNy. pa ti£•nt and practiticncr

.1ttcmpt to suppress thl symptoms with med ica tion, so

that the patient cams nothing and does nut prt>grcs >.TI1ere is a tim(' to treat sy mptoms. but therL• is also a time

to deal with the deeporigins of disease. If this is not done,then not onl y the individual, but also society. will remain

s.ic.k.

UFESTYlE

'rhe C hinese categ(lry of l ifesty iP, som ( times calfl.od mi.s·

ccl bncou.s factors, mainly rcliltCS to the compcn S.atiOnsfor the pain o :;.eparation fr(>tn the high'-'r s.elf. 1£ these

compensations are taken to excess. they can cause illness.fo r example, mental overwork c.m d;1m:.gc the Sp1c:cn,excess sex. cJn damage the Kid nt•ys, and lack of t?xc:rdse<-an result in Dcfidt.'1lt and Stagnant Qi.

Asceticism. the denial of the ph)Sical bod)r, is a n

nttr.1ctivc compensat ion for some people (one example i.s

anorexia). but it cdn dJmage the entire system and evenC.lU...<o.e de;1th. Th e pursuit of power, from inner fcilr and

insc.."<Uti ty, ( ,ln n.osult in grr;-at ln $5 upon the l lcart. and(.an also ('auS(.• dC'ath, from myocardial iM:.rction.

Thl type o compens.ltion, or lifestyle factor, th.lt isUS<.od to exClSS and that cauSL S illness for o particular

person will depend upon their psychological t) pe.

l'SYCHOLOCICAL TYPF

The Chin(l'Se cate--gory of Interior C'01USt'5i of disease.describes the r;-motions. Th e word personality will be used

in this discussion to pu t the ('motions into a wider contextof the Ov('Tall pattern of feelings. though ts and bchavh,ur.

For example. o.ns<·r can then seen not mcrclr as a nisoLltcd emotion. but as part of a pattern of frustra tion

and blockag(' a..:;sori.,ted with poor planning and a n

und<'l"d('vclo pOO intuitive f.1culty.People can be dassificd i.nto pcrsonalitr or psycholog·

ical typi.'S in a multitude of \"''ays. but in this book themain classification is il' to th{' I0 personality types of the

Five Elements. each o£ the Five Elements hn\ inS .1 Yindnd Yang type as shown in Table 3.1. U.1c h of the tO typt..-s

has a different pote1Hia l for personal development. eachhas a d ifferent group of life lessons to be learned. and

t.•ach h;-ds the pain of separation from the higher sclf in adifferent way.

Yin 1) 'rt

Yin Fi:t-..

Yin E-lrthYltl M<'lol)Ym \ \1,\ lt r

)1n Woo :

Yang FireY•nt E lnhY o ~ ~ n g M('l.alYAn,S WiUfr

Y . m ~ W ~ l o ; l d

Copyrghlcd m Ier



The 10 Five Element personality types, and their

assoda tt'd emotion,, arc dis.cusSot'd in d ~ t a i l in Chapter 4 ,

and summari;;cd in Tables 4.3 an d 4.4. Another cl.uM6·

<.:ation of psydtological types is given in Chapter 10 onthe Eight Extra 'hannel">, and s ummotri?.cd in Tab le 10.5 .

EXTERIOR FACTORS

Titedimatic factors, or Exterior factors. are generally given

as \ \11nd. Cold, Heat, Oamp, Dryness and Summer Heat.Howcvt•r, there is often confusion, since th t:> term Exterior

factor can be u$Cd in two different ways. Firstly, the term

c.an be used to mean an actual o n m ~ n t a l factor such a$

air m.o .cmcnt - Wind. to"' t x.1CfT'lal tcmpcr.'lturc - Cold,raised exlcmJl tempcrJturc - Heat. Jnd so on. Secondl>··

the tenn can be used to mt>an a pathological reaction of the

body, for example. Wi nd Hc.lt is . . p.1thologiCJ.l p.1ttcm

with f<.·vcr and chills, .md He<lt is 01 p.tUcm with fc,·cr only,regardless of whether the person w.ts exposed to exlemalair movement or raised tempcr;tture. Som<.'times there is a

dose com:spondcncc between the two meanings, for ex·

ample, pa thologk'al pauen'IS of Wind Cold, Wind Dry·ness, Cold. Dampand Summer m.1y follow x p o s u r ~to the associated en,·tronmcntal factors.

T.tbl t 3.:: l)oint rumblna:ions ((If btn-lor factors

Synclromt:" S i p ~ $ ~ y m p t o m ~ r ubt:"

Wind Cold oommol'l oold ~ c u t ~ rou,gh, l.-ilh"'hne sputum, and C'hUL<O pri'domiMnl

supcrfici1l,r ~ s h :

Wind He.u oommCJ:. t'Qld. wi:h sore m . ~ t . and SU )\"ffln.t1.,

f t - \ . ~ pa>dominMt tapld

Wjnd Ol')'nm . 1 c u ~ ~ . dry rou&h, Jry n ~ ..tndthrw.t. but n.,. n.:.fi•$Sarily my i t t ) n ~ of

He.u

wper l<.'UI

Cold .1\et"Sion to cold, f l - d i n ~ of oo dfoollohif\g -.-xl""l.ll'l' to ..-o'J or~ u m p t l o n of cold food xdrink bi>UCt'

ttgh:. m"yl:-c"''('P and sic"'·

"11th tofltmlh

THF. ORIG I'-'S OF OISF.ASES 15

Till ' (onccpts of \\'ind Heat and HeJt par1icularly, referles.._ to an envimnmt-ntal ftJctor, and more to a patholog·

ical reaction of the body. In Western tcnns, Wind Hci\tand Heat refer mainly to infection by micn.lOrganisms. or

in the <<lSC of Wind Heat. to anergic reactions. While

\Vind Heat is a reaction invoiV'ing more th e superficiallevel$ of the body, Heat may involve progressive )•dt'epcr

levels of the body. as dassificd accord ing to the Four

Levels, or example. The term E <terior Heat is therefore

rather dubious; i t n:fm neither to r-a.lscd cxttmal temper

ature, nor tO .1 n.'a(."tion limited to th(' s ur f<le<: of the body.Its only dn im to t h ~ wo rd E x t ~ r i o r is if the \tVestcm

t'On(.-cpt of extcrn .ll microorganisms is adopted. The mosta r a b l ~ Chln{'S.(' conc(•pt is that of pestilences or

cpidcmics. The term Exterior Heat is therefore used here

to refer to .1cute fevers thilt do not appear to rcloue to

ln terior factors, but to microbial inf(."(tions.

£xtcm.:tl invasion may relah• to predisposing Inte rior

factors. For ~ x . : u n l c . Interior Cold may predispose toitwJsion b)' hterior Cold; lntt"f'ior Damp ma>• predispose

to Exterior IJamp. Ho, . ever. the In terior equivalent.$ of

the Exterior fac;tors arc not discussed here since they

rtl.\te to s pecific: orgall syndromes. For example, InteriorCold may relate to Dc(kicnt Yang of Kidnrys. Heart or

Spleen, and Interior \•V ind to li\'er.

Tongue

thi."' "' h ilt' rol l

r«= tonguto.lhln ycno"' c.oot

thin, "hitcor ~ l l o w t'tlolt

l l a ) p;llt'.\WI

Point romblr u tlon

CV. l2 Rd; lU.7, I.IA. SL. I l Rd M• Kl.1. iH for l d ~ n t Def('nsi"-e Qj

C\1.1 CV.12, LU .7, LIA, iE.S Rd

' Kl.6. Rl: Kt2 Rd for Oeftdt·n<y An;.•

LU.i. U.4 Rd; LU.S, KJ.6 Rf

I,U , KJ,7, $T.J6 R_( MGV, l-t. Ol . l l Rd M (or \ 1/ind Col..i

• CV 4 or CV.4, BLH Rf M « l}(lfldcnt

Kidn.Jy Yang• CV.l2 or CV.6. m.zo Rf M lor Dt.·ftt:kntSpi('l.'1l Y01ng

Damp -'''C'I'don 10 dJM.p and rold. ft'\'Ung.s f. ~ t u ~ ,J;pprry m . l Y ~ pale-. CV •. CV.tZ Rf M: T'£.6, SP.6, SP.9 Rd MAttrTl.O'tl' CVA. C V , t ~ . BL.ZQ, 81 .22, 81..13 E M... I'C.C.. sr ..o rw lc.r l'tl.l•'):m

Summn HrO'It

HN

dunnc.ss ~ n d hc.win'-'SS OC' .lct\4.• '" ltmbs,/01)()"-'ln,g O: ;\ X"Un: tv < . ~ ~ a m p M\d llUm

f t < l i n ~ nf f.lointnc:5ll, diuin<.'M, f ~ < t.1nd u r . . : o o ~ (o11cMing O W ~ \ J l < ) S l 10su.n or Summt.'f f i ~ o t \ , ""')'t>c: 1'\'d i "hin&Jkin

f c < ~ o (II v.uying "''ilh thin .and m<wboe d ~ b r i u m and N'd skin r3$h

I T U } ' b t . ~ §II X'rfi0.11

.and tloodrng t

l'mptyQf 01im,a:,•

rapid. full

m . o ~ y ~ l : , ' T f ~ ~

m ~ y ~ mi.

ma) bt r l tll1WW t; f : uy l'i>At

tbtk M l, dry,a y ~ · >'\'IIUw

"''

• ST.25, S' J.: S EM fflr Cold O .mp in i ~CV. U , 1.1 :. , f. l,t l Rd. 81 . 0 0+ PC.9 (i)t S)'" C"'?t

CV.U, Ll.-1, U.ll Rd

+ H I 9, PC.9 or xu. n 8 ~ ' ' f ' r V.,. STAS RJ foe Ho::at In Ston-.. :h O'lml

Intt.osti.n..- .

Copyrghlcd m ler



16 THEORnlCAL PR.lNCIPLES OF POINT COMBINATION

Point combination for the F.xtcriur factors arc given inTable 3 .2 for the commonest Exterior syndromes:

Cold

0dmp

Sommer Heat

\o\'ind Cold\VimJ Heal

Wind DT)'llf.'S$ .

Heat has been includ{-d in Table 3.2, although it isperh.lps not strictly an Exlertor factor.

INTERIOR FACTORS

The lnt('TiOr a c t o ~ of discasc usuaJiy given as theemotions. in f3ct oompris(> the broader pattern of the

personality. including feelings, thoughts and beh<lviou.r.

Table 3.3 summarizes the 10 pt"fSOnalily types of the Five

Elements, including their o t i o n a l groups.

It is better to refer to the 6\'C emotion groups rather

th.Jn the five emotions. For example, the emotion group

of the Wood clement includes not only omger. btu also

imp.:aticncc, irrit.lbility, intolc.-rance, h)'IX'rsensitivi.ty. un

certainty, self-doubt. frustralion. d epression and r ~ c nment.

Table 3.3 gkcs some examples of point combinations

for the different emotion groups, bu t it must be empha·

sSzOO that these combinations ue only guidelines. to be

modified according to in dividual need.

Tablt" 3.3 Pd tll roml'in<ltloo:s for t h ~ 1. D1otion gtWJl$

LIFESTYLE FACTORS

Tilose f,lc ors tholl are neither f::.xterior nor Interior, the

lift.>style factors. are relatL'<I to the PJirtlcular exctoss rom ·pens.1tions used by individual$, as diS<'Ussed in the

in troduction to this chapter. \"ihich compt'1\Siltions nrc

used wi ll depend on the personalily type, as <.li.scussed inC h a p t e r ~For example. a Yang Earth type is likely to usc food as

a compensation, .md the ~ u l t i n g ovenMting, especiallyof sweet foods, is likely in this constitutional type to lead

to obesity or c:ot.mh. A Yang Wood type may use the

compensation of aggressive fast driving, and th e f'ffect on

this J"I$Onallty type of attempting this In modem traffic,

is likely ~ frustration, raised blood pressure, headache

or trauma from accident.Table 3.4 summariu$ some common syndroml.$ an d

ailments arisjng from some of the main lifcstylt' factors,

with poi.nt combin .:uion examples for them. Again. theseare guidt.>lines only. In addition. in each case. acupuncture

is bL'St combined with self-help measures. for L ~ m p l e .the poin t combin,llion for StoJMch Fire \\iU be usci<'Ss if

the patient continues to consume cxc.css cayenne pepper,

vodka and strong roffee.

Only a selection of lifestyle facton:o is given in Table 3.4.

for e.xounplc, drugs. s.uch as nicotine, alcohol, roHee,

amphet<lmlnes_ cocaine. heroin and LSD. have not been

included.

l ~ m u t 'I'J1>e l ~ C 1 1 U rolnt combinat.lous

Flrt nn i.ki, lanely, bckir.g tntmst in l1fe. relationships. ~ n d so,.;oll CV.4, CV. I7. 1-T.S, PC.S. I•:U. ST.36 Rf1-ft'.t.ft .,eth;t)'

\'on5 ~ M . i l . l b l e , 0\ef\"lllhwUstic.. i t t e s p o ~ b l e . :.oci.illy ur CV .U. CV.t7, HT.8, Kl1 Rd; HT.6, Kl.6 Rf&<')ell-lily W ' f ' J ~ h ~

Eonh ' 'inSp wn

worrying. .,.,.ith too much thinl;i-ng: :md nQI ('l'IOV&h ~ c t i o n CV 20 yi n t;ing Rd; CV.4, CV.I2,ftdlng too tir£-d ind em pty in ldt' t< " ~ r c for :oc..if <If' Qhm ST.)6 Rf M: IH

)'41\g c l i n g i ~ ' O S ~ s \n trusin·. limiting the lnd tprt'odi'TUC of CV.4. CV. 12. CV. t1, S l.36. UU. UUJ Rf Mo t h l ' ~ br tneif 0 \CI'l'UI\ (1:11'1

M ~ u t \ 'i nLungs

w r ~ . , . from ...ctn-e p.ul.iciJNition in if,•. f c . ~ ~ r l u l of lo,..,, CV.4 . CV.1t CV l i LU.tO. HT..S, ST..36 Rf M\\;th s - u f f i d ~ t'n\'f'8) 10 fOrm 'Stifl$

''"'

suppresSing gfk.of, dumpmg: cheb Ol'g;tti\oi ty on lO o t h ~ o n . C\',6, CV,1 7 t M; 1..U.7. sr. , Sr'.ll, I,R I, I..R.Iol E\clng r e l < 1 1 l l o o ~ merely 10 o J ~ t . I J . : S < ' : r o c e 5 < ~ grief'

W1tu YinKidney,

fc ulul a life, ""'kin& dri''" ur 4mbillon, l-.t$11)' diM outast'd CY.ZO. CV.-t, t-JT.8. Klt, Kl.7. 81..64 RIMby difiiwl:) o r dant_;t. '', ghin.g; up l f l lift.o

,.,,ns fC'.ufuf ol b ingn:mtrol. < : r v t ' r a m b t . ~ . ru thlf'S.:, n N'dino « CV.20, CV. I4, I'C.6, Kl l ltd: CV,I7, Kl6 Rloblain po,.,.er O\W others. to {('\' 1 SI.'C\U .'

Wood 'n ..

p e T ' S ( > n s . i u n . : t ' 1 t . n g ~ l f " C . : m f i t k ' 1 ' « , uNlln: o£ CV.4. TE.4, GU.40, SP.6. ST.36 Rf; CV.l 4, CD .J3 £th\>it own d m t k ~ <&nd P-'th 11 1 Uft, t'4$ily donUnt\tcd by<Kht•rs.. timid

Yilng a g ; s T t ~ : \ ' o , ' , impatil.-nt.. .mgry. tntO -'r.\nt :ll'ld k'lfish, tr)'ing o GV.20. PC.8. Kl ,l . LIU Kd: UU, l\1.6 K

~ J n d th cir u ...-n (8(1 ~ o ~ o l o u t ~ , n d for tJothl: '

ru,ReinfQning nwthod; Rd. lt.•dudng m'·thod; E. E'l'tl'l mt·tl-lod.: M. ~ ~ ~

Copyrghlcd m lcr



TUE OJt:IGINS OF D15EASfS 17

Faden Typ . £ ut111ple atlm.nt Syndlocnl' e ~ l n l (Otllbfn.IIIM

Nutrition m.l Pvtritioo. t i r t · d . t t l ' S ~ . tnu.lruliU 0 6c i fU Qi l l t ld CV.l l , l.L4, Sf' 3 Rf MfrOm w .akness BloW

going too long b intntss. lJII'Iiciil"nl SpiNn Qi (;V.20, CK 20, l iW t:; CV, 12 ST.36, Sr .6 Rf

l \i thc.>l>t

( ' ~ l i n gltritOlb•li y II)P'--"nrn"'4:

U ~ . - rY a n ~

Nti.ns w hUM('morion.llly upsd

f,obtrith , initablc bowel

~ T i d t o m ( 'St.gnant U"·er Qi

y p c r a c t . i ~ Liwr

)'ant

CV. I2,. C\'. U, J'C.6. u tJ, u tU ST.J 6 E

""""ssh·e e;uing ronstir;ation. ruu.w•. Retfmion af fa C\' .11). CV. I3. PC.6, SP-1 . RddUtE'Jbl\ln tn s::omach

• x ~ . : ~ c,'ll.:,l f<.."'"'' t ( ' n ~ l o n .utd J)o'tn Cold lti \'Mf ' > CV, 12, SPA, ST,l l, RJ M.tnd drink St<lmJCh

t"Xl"CSS Srt'IISy naus..•a, ~ d o c h e U w : ~ C . d l b b d d o . > t rc.6 . LL4, C IUO. CB.H, U U, S'U O Rdfood o\nd ~ r o h o l I);}" P

\ ~ 6 J*ps,;:ryfood. coffc : or

W"trilh Stomilch Fir..- CY. I : , I'C,$, LUI , ST.ZI, ST .U R..t

s r .6. Kt6 RI•phits

Eu rdu CXCi'llil $ t f l . " t \ U C U ~ Ctll'h.ltHMn UMlcimt HNJI and ( :V,20, HT.7, ST.J(,. Kl i Rf M~ ' M . - l ' O \ I C Kidnt'y Q)

ruutfieleru f ' \ ~ u l . ut ' X l . ~ ~

~ t r a t :m J dc.--pn.>sslon S t a g n < ~ : t t U \"< r Q C\'.6 , CV. 17, LU.i', I.R. I. l.ll J . 1.10 4 E

ll"XC'CU CXCfciK'

durir.g mensuoo:ionl:r'IC'nonh.tg\1\ S t H ~ n ~ holding

th(' BlooJCV,4 , SP.t.. SP. JO, ST.J6 Rf M

S .rE'f',liOUJi fXE"tci5t' sprain St.:.gn.lnt ()I .md Ah ShJ r nn:ll, l(ll"a l .11nd r , . 1 point:s Qn th..-w t.houl lllood afft'Ct1.'1.i <hannd

.td<-q1.1,J.l\' '"lrtn•Up

\'/odt } l ~ ~ 0\"-'l_.,.(Uk n l w .. ~ . a k m ~ k - • C k f i c k ~ t Sple\-n;1nd Kldn('r Q

CV.. , CV. l l . U .4, SJ>.O, S T.Jb, KI.J R M

~ t T t ' S & J u l ( )\ (' f'W<)rk Mol4dd-.• i, i:uomnia Deficient He•r: and G\'.20. HT.S, I.R.2 RJ: HT.3. SP 6, Kl.6 kf

Un-r Yin

t ~ \ e NUd)• p<:<.lf memc>ry .-.nd lkficknt StoJCXI )in :.ing.. U.1, ST". I, ST.45 t: CV.-t CY. IZ

n u : n ~ OHf'WOtk ( ' ~ \ t r t . \ t i o o Stogrunt S t . o m . ~ c SP.6, $1'.36 RlQi

n ~ W ( " .-mbinCtn, tOt<tJ e\hAUSiiOf\, bun't<JII.II FMfS1 r ~ G\' 2ll. Kll Rd: SP,6. ST . 6. K.i Rfu n n - ~ k go_.1b Will and . : k n ~

Kidm.')' Qi

»ons ·(("J"Jll f r ~ r i l . l i o n d ~ i o o . St•l:i"""' l iv<'r Ql CV.6. PCb. LR.3, LR. I.& Rd.;une1Yiplo)'ment t.ek of confider.'"" l£.4, CIUO t M

rece-nt j<)b IO :i-.<i t;rlli:f. d toj)rt-'Salc)n. Sl.tgr'IAI'I: He.trt ( \1.6, CY. I7 J; l.U.7. Kl 6 t;; Kl.l Mor rd in •mt.-nt ltd• of $0(\.tJ OYt <et U'tt Qi

U<k o ( ' . X C ' ~ food ( If l-ucmni4 ...,.ith flf.' i.nS': uf StomK h Fire and CV ,l O lin midn. r'C.S, LR.l, ST.H Rd; SP.6 F... . a lcoNl-1 in w ~ t N s astrir diK(:.m/wt l.h ·t t 11R'

f\ '('flmg

O . ( ~ ll'l<ental i n ~ f l i l l wi th . . . - l t d ~ St.agn.-nt Stoo-...ch {;V,l O y'Ln n ~ U ... 5 1'.1. SP.«t, $ '1'.3 ,

work into thoushtt. .1nd wonin Qi. EM'f'ning

moufficl('nt slH'p t"'.IUuf.tion. <If work l:k.fidf"ttt Kiinc}' Qi CV.20, CV.4. IJ, -1, S'L:>6. Kl.fi Rf- to skoep late .'lnd t ff"-encr and Yi n;md ti<'l u p Ntl)'

Rc:btionship& tx-re-.. ' t'me'1\l hod .,. sril'.' , ~ s St,sru-nt Hew ;mJl.ung Qi

C\ .6, CV. I7 EM: LU.i _. HT.6. Kl.6 E

diffar:,..lt k'S In

communSr-lli()."'

lhrNt or ci'IPNF in ~ - s n 0 1 n l Hent C..li C\1, 17, CV.23, PC.6. SPA Rd M: CV. -1 Rf M

Copyrghled m ler



18 'rHF.OKF.TtCAI. YRINCIPL.fS Of POI NT COMBINATION

Tablt U (eont'd)

Fac:IOf Typ< Eumplt Allmtnt Syt'ldrOIILf Point combimtion

Jitrli;'Uity in f . : . a t f u l o.nJ withdr-•"' •.1fotm.\ng lJ.s lil'lglxlnd•

D ~ : f n . . - . , t lung .tndKWint-y Qi

CV.4, CV.I7 Rf M; ll,.i,7, Kl.6. ST.36 Rf

nc:..._...t lr p..1wtrin n.of.aUorbhips ini«U ri:)' .:md p llor.tnoi .a Ol..f'I&'Tit K dnL y Qi CV.4, CV. I4, Sr.JO, Kl.), Bl..64 Rl M; HT.7.Sl 3E

d h1gi ll ;J C C ' ~ ~ t C ' 5 t

\ ~ t ' . l t i n ~ and obe lty S t ~ ~ Splctn Ql CV .t2. PC.6.. SP,l , STAO UtJ, lR. tJ F.

( ') ; l. 't$ 1 ICiw ba<k pain, tinn itu s Oc6c,.:nt ~ Qi C\'..a, .29, ST.36, Kl.3 IU

intuHirit'n t & . ' t ' l ' ~ t r n t i o n St•gJUnt kidnL'Y, (:\' .3. C\'.6, CV. I7, PC.6, K U ~ . KlJ3,bact pdln U\'t r : ~ n d lean Q LR.3EM

. C\. wh.Ust n:Sc ot'SSIM.SS,. O"J\OUS Ddlck"tlt 1-Jc.an ;mJ C\'..3, CV.14, CV.I i , I-IT.7 E; SP.6. I..R.8 Rf ; » l . - d ten$lon, ln.tl:-ibty to rdliJ<

.and tully l"nio)o'

u,·t'l' Yin

un..s.tisf KtQI)' b c.k. of org. m_. ~ n e s s Stdgn.lOl Qi OlOd C\ ',3, CV.6, C\'.17, l.U.7, HT.8. Ut2 Rd~ ~ .. r ~ n t t n n l l Are of U et .md

biltc-m<'M- l l ~ t . , i

traumo w.-qucl.tc toc.tl ~ i n Of •liffnt.s. ~ 1 ( ' . 1e...ul\' & f f ~ \ d by Wlnd.<;old ind [)41mp

Stasrum Ql .andBlood

Ah 5hi point , 001 and dicu4J on the aff«tcodch.trtMis £ M: U.4, SP.S Rd

~ ~ d : i L,ck of Dtfldcnt l ~ r t ~ n d GV .20. CV.4. CV.14, J\1.3, ST.36 R M; t-rr.7 eC \ 1 1 1 \ f i ~ · . l ' l ' i t h d Kidr.t y Qi

ptOM d:lyo.:ln amins. tlwntal Ow:Adl'tlt lind CV.20 }in t i ~ U.l, Ll.4. SP.1. SP.6 E;(thn'lU&h ln.uten rlon) piY'OC\.'\1 pilllOO St·ISJ'dnl S p ~ r Qi ST.36 Rf M

.t(C'Idi:nl pn>n.: n . o ~ t t t n l i or r«k $tWSS H)f*f.:<tl\'e- ~ CV. lO f'CS. T£.5, IJC.l. CIU8 Rd; Kl.6.(through imp;tl._-nc,•) throoglt i r n t . ~ Ymg .tnd Rn.• $P.6 Rr

Rd. R«iurins m<othod; U, Rrinforrins mcthud; E. Jtwn nt(othnd; M. molta.

ILLNESS ARISING FROM TREATMENT

This doe5 not refer to lhe concep t o f 'h('aJing crisis'. but

to ~ i t h e r the side-1:ffects uf (:{)rrect trea tme-nt. or the

results of inrorrcct treatment.

SfDE ·EFFECTS OF CORRECT TREATMENT

These 3re far more common in Wcstcm than in Chinese

medicine. In \'\'estern medicine. com::ct treatment,

\ o•hether phannaceutical. su rgical or rad iological, c:an be

accompan.ied by side--eHe<ts. which c.Jn r.mge from mlld

to fa.ta.l. Side·cff<."':ts h.1ve hvo main ~ s Fi.rstly, ageneral n.o<fuclion of the immunological tmd psyd\ologicalre-sistance of lht> system. and second, specific effects.

Postsurgic.1l shock .1nd the af ter-effects of anaesthesia

on the circulatory system may be trcoltcd by such point

combinations as HT.7 <'lnd Kl.3, or CV.4, CV.l7, PC.6 a nd

SP.4. · e r c d rcslstancc to infe<tion foltowi.ng rortisone

treatment can be treated with oombiMtions such as LU.9.

Kl.7 and ST.36. or Bl-13. BL20 and BL.23. However.

acupuncture combinations for the sidc--cffocts of specificdmgs are outside lhc S<ope of this book.

INCORRECT TREATMENT

Whilst the use of mo xa In s o m ~ cases of Excess or

Ddick'TlC) Heat can have unpleasant e ffects, acupuncture

is a scl{·balancillg trea tment. lncol'l"Cd point combina·tions generally have no effect. whether adverse or bene-

ficial. There are exceptions to th is, for cx.1mplc, usc of

points like SPA and U.4 in pn.ognancy can be unwise.

lnrorret.1 treatment with Chinese herbs. and espedally

with WC'S tC m mLodicine, C)n have more serious effects. It

is not only in corn."ct treahnent, but also overpresoiption

that is so damaging to both health and national e c o n o ~mies. For E."'<amp e, the psychotropic drugs, such as

hypnotics, tranqulllizers a.nd antidepressants arc grosslyovcrpresoibed, y,:ith problems of not on_y $ide-effects but

also dependence and addktion.

Acupuncture c n be used in mMy cases not only as an

alternative to these drugs. but also to treat the e f f e c t sand dependenc e. However, long-term acupuncture treat·

ment mus t be based on the personality type o£ th e

patient. asdi.scusst.-d in Chapter 4. h is not enough simply

to get the patient off lhc drug; the internal problem that

c-.utSOO them to go on the drug mll$t be addressed, or they

,.,m return to drug use.

Copyrghled m Ier



Mo tivtltiGn

UndetS1anding - - - - - - Method

Fl - l . l

ACUPUNCTURE AND SELF-HELP

From this chaph.•r i t is obvious th.lt in many c ~ the

benefits of acupuncture ,,;nbe limited. unl ess patients

make a de ermined effort to d l.Jnge th emselves and their

li\'es, or at least apply a modicum of St'lf-help.

There arc three main aspe<ts of scJf.hetp: understand·

ing. mt·thod .md motivat ion.

UNDERSTANDING

The practitioner needs to build up an understanding o

the pcrsorw1ity ond l.ifc pMtcm of the p.ll icn:, in orde r to

hdp the- ~ t : i l f l to a knowh.>d.gl' (lf S\-lr and an abilil)' to

see life in perspective. It may be necessary to do this

slowly, a little at .1 time, since sudden self-awareness can

often ll.'ad to sclf·di$gust an d loss of motivation. The gap

bctw(.'('n o w O O s ~ or se.Jf and ttl"Ceptante of <':an be

one which is difficult to cross, and many patients need

cspt'rial support at th is s tJgc.

THF ORICINS 0 1 DISl.:ASI:S 19

METHOD

n ,e practitioner needs o sel('(t methods of s . c l f ~ h d that

are appropriate to the p a t i ~ n t s JWrsona lity and lifestyle.and that arc, <ss fa.r as possiblC', enjoyable and rew.uding.

Tiljs applies not only to sys tems of nutrition, exercise and

meditation, btu also to te-chniques for reorganizing rhe

p.Hicnt s working an d daily life.Change c.an only ) XUr at a sp<.'<.-d that is acceptable to

the patient. and it may b<o wls.c to give the p.1tient only

one pro ject at a time and to wait until they have

com plc:tcd it bt:forc giving another. It is also often wise to

start by giving the patient a task they am easil)' .Khieve.thus giving them ronfid('ncc and not overtaxing them 31

the beginning.

MOTIVATION

Tiu• ntllin probkm is often lack of consistl'nt moti\'atitmand man)' patients are discouraged by inevi table

sct·backs, and gi\'C up. To sont > dl'grre, this may be

assbtcd by iltupuncture treatment. For eXJtnp e, B YinWat< r t y p l ~ may be easily discouraged by set backs, andbenefit from CV.4, Kl.2, K1.7 Rf .t. Alternatively, il Yang

Wood t)'J>C may become quickly impMicnt if the rate of

progres.-; seems too s1ow, and may benefit from GV.20.

Kl.l, LR.2 l d.

However, in the end, motivation n only come from

within the patien t. The praditioner can give support and

encouragement. but if the pati('nt is not rC'ttdy t make the

consistent effort nt.'\.XSsary or change, tht• pr.1ctitioner

must accept th.lt. Th< r o b l ~ is discussed in more detailin th(' introduction to the 10 personality types in the next

chapter.

Copyrghlcd m lcr



The ten person lity types

ntroduction

LIFE LESSONS

In the fabric of e,lch individual IHe there e certain main th reads or themes. Th ese- areth e main issues or lessons to be dealt with in that life. Wh"n ,, person deals positivelywith these main thent(.S, )c:olming the lessons of thdr life and aJiowing their natural

abfHtics to unfold. there may be many difficulties to ~ Qv(.•rromc. but th('rc is

S3tis(action . ln addition to the development o natural abilities. life lessons c.m involverising above rcpc.:.ti.ng ncg.1tivc p;lttcms, such as .mgcr and intolerJncc, fcJr of failure.

or difficulty in expressing feelings in dose personal relationships.

1 he 10 d iffewnt personalit)' types of the Five Elements each have thi>ir specific life

lessons, although C\ CI } individual is un.ique, and is often a complex mixture of the

d_ffercnt Five Eh:.ment typt.">S. These pcrsonalitr types and their lift: lessons. are

summ uized in Tables 4.2 and 4.3. The discussion of the 10 personality ~ that

follows in this chapter, while b lSed on tro1ditional Chinese medkine, is tht' pcrsono1l

interpretation of the author.

UNUSE ADI LJ frES

(f major abi1ities are unused, there may be an Increasing inte-rnal pressure of

d i ~ s a t l s f : a c t i o n which can manifl S t in i l l n For ('J(ampl{ , a man thinks he should be

involved in healing. but his real ~ b i l i t i c s are in business and S.. lii S. Or a woman h.lS

drifted into administration, but her real abilities are in o m m u n i ~ t i o n through writing.

Firstly the person has to perceive the problem. second find their true abilities within

t h e m v e s , and third de\'elop the strength of self and the perseverance to make the

change. The ~ p l i n e d de-ve lopment of in tuition CJn be an enormous help inperceiving life problems in ~ r s p e c t and in seeing th t' scq\JCncc of steps by which

they um be solved.

REPEATING NEGATIVE PATIERt\;5

One person might repedtedly set themselves unrtalistic goats .tnd then overwork a1ld

21

4

Copyrghled m ler



22 TftF.ORf.TICAI. f > J ( U : S OF POII\.'1' COMSINA1'10N

become lll in trying to achieve them. Another person

might, through insecurity, be overly clinging and possessive in relationships. thus driving partners away and

reinfl)rdng their own fearS.

The finH stage in learning such lessons is 1n inO't'osed

scJ(•• varencss, so that the repc.lting pattern is dearly

perceived. Second. the individuoll has to blwmc sosated with ~ p i > a t i n g this s a m ~ mistake, that lh('y effectthe necessary change in their personality to go beyond t

It m:2y take many re.;us to reach this point of satiation. infact it may nt ver h a p ~ n and t h ~ t person may tttkt> their

r c ~ a t i n g p a t t ~ to their grave.

Sometime-s the old negative p.lttcms seem to fall uwayeasily. often it requires constant dail)• discipline to go

beyond them.

TRANSFOR;\UNC THE NECATIVE

The way 10 rise above nt'gative patterns is not to fightthem, since this simply g.ives them more strength, but

to put an incrc:asing amount of cncrg}' into the positi\'c

patterns that are to replace them. Affirmations and

cr tivr visualization are two excellent ways to do

this.

f'()r example. for a Yang l . i v r . ~ type to berate themselvesfor their intolerance. or to try 01nd orce themse lves lo be

tolerant by <ln effort o will, would be cqua.Ur useless,

only leading to more internal pressure. It is more effectivequietly to \'i.-tualiz.e a scene where they are being kind and

considerate to another person, and to put positive energythrough that visuali7.ation each day.

THE ROLE OF THE PRACTITIONER

Tht> practitioner can help the patirnt to a clearer under

standing of their life l e - s s o n . ~ t , and c.:.n act as a c a t a l ) ~ t to

scJ(.aw.lrenc:. Ss. The practitioner c;an teach the patient

te<'hnlques o mcd.itdtiorl, affinnation ar1d t.'Teatlve visual·ization, and can help them to develop their intuition. But

until the patient feels ready to h o m g until they reachthe point o satiation with repeating thejr mistakes, the

practitionE,>r can do no more than offer support.

People can only cha.nge at their own speed. Some

people do not want to change at all, in others change is

very slow, and in others ther(' are brief bun;ts o change

followed by long periods of what seems to be stagnation.

I t is the role of the prllCtitioner to act as a eatalyst lor

chang(), when t h ~ cat01lyst is required.

POINT COMBINATIONS

The practitioner can use suitable point combinations or

e01dl of the tO personality types to assist them in their

pcrsonol growth. The basic combinations swnmJ.rizcd in

Table 4.3 are merel)' guidelines which must be \'<lriedaccordlng to the changing nt"C'ds o the patient.

Fin Fire r o e p r ~ t 1 the 5pirit, oonsdousn('$6.. th< ~ p c r i c i \ C \ ' o W\ity in sll li£c-. ioYt, affection:md jo)·. It includt'S communirorion .lnd e'-pn' S.'>ion of id f'3.'1 ~ 1 \ d ft t'lingt. It is p . : m ~ n t ' O U 'bHI) .lnd :s<.ld.al,

E.uth Urth f C J ' ~ ' f l l o &Oikt m"'1er, o u l ' l & . . , w s ~ ~ < ~ b U i l ) ' 011nJ pr.-.ak•lity. II r t p ~ W n l ~nourish.mcn:, c.ui.ng: n nd oornm lot othen. It rcpf('jcml' the .ln.llytknl mind •nd

c m p i : JMet.al Metal linked to th,.lnNth, to the> t>netS)' bCidy• nd ;o the \"Onrinu.ous rhythm of t.lldng

in ;md Jeottmf: go. R;-l.U:\'1 to l h ~ formati()n. m.1mt.;on.1n..'"" o ~ n d d i ~ ) u t W n of t-nttgt

bonlh. 11nd the growth of wijdQm h it \he o\blJily 10 -.;:e the- t.ru :h •nd b«Qm( .Jl nne:

" ~ l h it,

W.atu Wdter r e p l l ' S E O t ~ n e o r - g y n o r a ~ and ronwrv.uw:on.. ilnd lt tlw> same tirne th E f o c u ~t ' l ' l t : r ~ ) of tl1e wdl d l'ectt'd at «:hie'wnlii nt of goal3. tepft' ot"l1ts tht' nlll;ordrwl\1pmenta.l dungt.-t a IHc, .md yrt it is11lso the limil.lltil.mt t ct by fur Wolt« c p ~ n tinnt'1' l tf("ngth ; ~ n d (o)ith in wlf.

Wood Wood Npm.mts intuition ilnd tht h.arrnont{)Uj unfoldlng Clf an tndh•idu•l's potential. It

Co\n rt-prt'St'nt pL\ns and dt'd ilons a o; ln uuter nunlfestation of that unfoldin,;. It canr C ' t l l . n t the ftC'\. Bow ol M:U·('J,pt'C&Si(lt\, o ~ t h l1nd i ~ n 4 \ n { t in . a r m ~ m y with

the ~ ~ of otl\(-rf..

Copyrghled m ler



El tmt.nt

Fl,.

H

t\.ft.bl

Lungs

\ 'ln tr-pe

ser1:•us. s.ad <11J1d ~ l a • ' d Lt<.klnglnl'l•fi•St itl liJc, ldoll.iOmhq, . nd ,.;x,_i..tl

arti\·ity, fN"Iing unl .wOO andn . l o w ~ b l . :

p«'OC'Cuplt:d to.·hh ' n d l t i ' ''(l(rits andrm_--nUI :arsumcnb , with too much

thinking .1nd nO( c:nm•gh c t i o n ; h.wingol fe-ebns af m p l i n ~ wl lhm $0 thai i

h.t.rd to nouri h : ~ ~ : l f ()I ' othl r'

tuvio& dlffeutcr fotmins i n s bond,.or (('Mful o4 forming nl.'w t\>lniOnshlp >n)m ((\II Of 0$); wit) dr.IN \ h om o1('lh'C'

p.tttiop;Hiun in life lh•lns i.n the

PJ.Jt

l.:.cking ('t'l4'tg)'. i<'.trful, sjvi"S. up onlife ~ n d sumndoi>ring conlrol of theit0 \ 'n de:Jtin y; do not do 4.'fl.oo.gh. ('•Sly

d i « o u . r . ; : ~ g t \ 1 difficuU)' 0 1 dJ.ngcc;laddng thf' de1erm l:nation to Mhloeo,·eg,).1JS

h.wing J. WNk &<'nsc- of self .tndinsufficient pi:f'S(In.ll fortt; unEiUTl" of

:hclt ldf'ntity :.nd f)J.:h ln life; wllh

dtffltult) ( ' ) . p n i n g th \'i: l);o.Ti q;o,1uv(' ' ' t . ; ~ . k bound<lries, timid. liCking inronbdcnce and plagu<>d b)• M>lf..<JouM

res:less. O'\ete-.\cttJoblc, O \ ~ h S i . a s t k.and m.uuc:. l , ) , a , . ~ s h d t.J.Ihtive, >O(i.'aUyOT wvu.llly O \ ' C f < 1 c t foo iih,lrri.'Sp<l'l'\ lbl('; ttrcding to bum0\1 , w'llh

e ~ . h t t u ~ l i o d e - p r n o n , ~ " t ' n suidc.ie

il'ving to fe-111 and n : . ~ . o c u . r l t i ~ fY)' usetk•u u nns to hatd oet to .:.:hen.dcmiNtt• 1hc"tr :it·rs and lim itintkpendcntf'; m;ty clinging.~ . . _ . ""d into the: lh'<'$of olhe-n

~ <." ' holdins oo tt l thdr sri'" .lll:ing f l :.dk ,,l Qut i t .md Qifll);.d thc:tr

g a t h on to oth\'rs;- using rww

n:I.Atiooruhipl mcrdy Ut I U ~ W ~ g e lht'u n ~ srid Ql ,, ~ on('

doing COil much• • nbittcms ol.nd ruthlcsi:and IJoi•li:lnt; ronsldf'r.ltlon for othm,

m.1yl>e .and

fooJMrdy;' U J " J ) r b S cllrs but h l n ~ l.n .. :stn-ss fn1t11 fe:n c \ ) ~ of 'OI:trlll; St'C'klng

~ , f c by obtaln ng p<)'\\ ('1' ~ m ddo min.ation cwn . e n ~

fcding .a p r o e ~ u r . : of lnnt•r Uf'\(\'t1.JI.ntr.r o one n t ~ r i r n c ·1nd irritdl>l€'; imok>r.lnl•nd ~ l f ' ~ h . i':.-pouxtms: : h c ~ r own ~withou t ~ o her.s' n(ll:dS,

~ r i n t y 41'1 ;f)'. t ~ g g r . : . · s u.ttdnuybt• \'iolm t , . , . ~ · n u.t-rnlf'd or

d"J'....,.,..,

't HE l"S\' PERSONAUTYTYPES 2"3

t>xp.i riend nj:; Me ' ''llh h e m ~ l ' S .mdullowins it to rJdi.Jte out around th i.•m,

but in c a l m n A t ~ d p t . l « ' li ' 'cl)' .mlih.-ppy, balilndng ,,·i:h

oon t'mpbti(ll\. " 'i$dom "'"d :10bntty

ha \•i.r-s"' quk'1, C'llrn. logk.ll n\l.nd thJt

cou ' fredy tr .nt .ltr thc)usht in o pr .-.d QJao1M , and .1 p iNSOint t ' ( ' ~h'hlo.'h i.s S,nf'.lthtt:('. p o r t i ' - .md

~ . u i n t ; . OO t n O i l t l l r t . ~ ~ i n . '

; ~ I I , n s pru«'. i'' of c;rit'f. 11tins soof tht; p.t St, i n m g wisdom. J.nd k-Aming<lnd gf\»\;r_.,g from I ; Kh attit<hmtor.t;

p.uti(ipallng in IJfe 41ld forming nt.'W

bonds w ilhO\It inhlblrion by fc .ar of Joss

i n g 11 finn will. but 1\ith ronet-m for5( 1 ttnd CXII<TS. noc u ~ ' d b} < iffiOJ it) Ot d . J n ~ ' f but l o o l r . J y :.:dns from lnnn ~ " S f ' ' ..nd f.aHh i.nJOel . not :.• a ro:'llFJI.- MIIhOI'I f Jr in S'CUrl iy

.\nd f1.-.tr

CO '\ftdf:l'lt "ml lntuitiw, luvin.g 11 d c.tr, ; s.lon of their own p.nh in life, "nd th('p.1 ti.,•n( ( 10 .JIIO ' It l o \ lnfl)ld ; t>trong

;,nd lnd . t- -'nd.:nt. but ~ b ) c co p r t ~tbdr own pt•n.:l'l'lalit)' In " Sn'IOI> hrt 1., '1 i.'d woty. in ha rmony with rhl" ~){ othm

Yin typt Point combirution

to tonM':n·.: en'"'SY ; ~ n d build up$ .'1\ 'g lh , t'.l ~ m od(or.AtKlf'l and 1\'0i<.S

«Jo.INBl('S, 1 ) W<lfk In 1 , 1 . ~ _ , , gh1ngtnjO)OtMt M d a q11 id:4'ning of the:affE'CriOM (I le;arn hO\o. t (l i'<ptE' ioS

~ ' f i J n g s and needs

lo come out of th('ir i_nn('r world ofthoughts. to funy n h ; ~ i t tlwirphyu.al bodie; .and to \JSe th<>m Inlhl( re<il world, () tt'Tlldu.t_ll)' repl..t,'\lhri.r l"'&&tiV(' thought p . l l l t t n ~ with

det.tJ1e,j fiU\I(" Uf\> of p O r i t.aftln'tl.lt\Oa'l$. lO le>.1m to t)Otlrl$h ;andc . e sdf ~ ~ n ~ ->tht'rs

to Stl'\>f\,f>lhtn the ph)'Sk.lll l:lcldy .111\d

the D.ln Spken 11nd Heart~ l n . ' s 10 c n : t t S i h l - n thr abili;y toform bonds 11nd to rcoduC'e (t 'il r, 1r>

&"in thq 5trength and ~ to le-tgo. t<J kam 10 come out o( ll \eJ'riSeh'es

and bt: ,l.lm'll af;ilin by the ....-.. mtho li:ft'

to lNm wh"'" to Stop. to tum~ t h ' 1 \ t i o n inw.ud .. nd find l l n ~ §lind p < . ' to bJltlnC'\• lo\'t l'IUhcontcn1p:a6on ,u d wi sdot \. 10•llow lhf' .nnl?r fuy the splti:tn tddia:e lhroo3)\ then\ InloCib riC'ty

10 dC'-'t lop ,m innt:r c n g l h . to,-ontrol lh(' ft.ar And lM«Urit)'that 'I'IUl:es them \\ ant 10 hold

en h> Clthtu, to find" W\m: : ofIO\C "'ithi:n t h C f l ~ ( ' h ' t S ti\J.tthey do not f ~ l th" inner

cmpti:ni.•$:; tha: m.1J:es dwmdtpl"ndi:'nt on t s e n ( ~ o(

Otht'n

tCI IC'.IIrt\ IV lt:t go and .JlfUw

SJ1elling. to l.t1'e the ttu lh o > ~ l ' l d to

boe ho nl'1t wilh m ~ h ' t ' S undoth('n, rJ.ti' (-r th.m \W.ng o thcf

propk> in selfish wa)' to pJIIiat >

t h ~ U grid: 1c1 It:' ' to he:J withthe of o hen; .tn to put

tht'i.r in pcr lp«1iw

Yin typeJA•Mimcy C\ ',4, CY. I7, K1.3, ST,J6 Rf M: JIT 7, I'C 7 E:HT.$. f 'C8 M

i : e T n GVA . GV .11. GV.l (l, OL 23, 6L14 RfS::t.gntttiorl C\'.6, CV.I7, SP4 F. M: CV.1.1, 1'C6 E o: Rd

Yang t ) 'pt CV. i-1, CV.Ii . HTS. tel l Kd; Hr.6 , k 1.6 Rf

Yin type'

lAck .:t < k - ~ C \'.20 . )<ln :Jng Rd; SP. I, ST.4S ~ 1 : C\ A ,CV. I2. 5T.36 Kf MlAck of roncl'1TI CV. Il. C\111. HT.8. SP.2. SP.J ,ST.36 RJ Mollt t trak• 8L iS, KL2 0, BLH, HU9 IU M

Yang l)'f"t C\'. , CV.12, CV.Ii', s r.J6, I.R 1,LR. I J Rf M

'.'in t)'Pt'O « y (.V .o4, C V 12, CV. 17. LU.IO HT.S,ST.J6 Rf M

~ - r n . , GV f, GV. 12. BLlO. BL.Zl . BU2. Ol.44 Rf M

5U1::TUI1¢'1 CV .6. CV. I7 F. M; tU . I. l U 1i. l.U.i, IJ.ol .KU. ST.40.tltc.Tni11Cl m...JJ, BL. IS, BL.l7, 81...42. Dt.44 E

Ya_ng type CV.6, CV. I7 E M; tU .7. Ll.4. SP. I, SP.Zt.LR. I, LR. U E

Copyrghlcd m lcr



24 fHF.ORJ:.1'1CAL I'KINCIIUS OF POIN'I' COMtliNA 'IlON

Tablt' -I.J (cvnt'd)

~ lypt Point aun.binat_ml

to ron.M'I'w •nd ~ t h e nt.llol'fSY• not IU .aucnpl tasl..:$ OCyondthC ir t'.ilp.l('ify . b\l t nOt to t p ocr M l.:.ave t .. lo.s unfitl bhl-d. t;) lco'lm

ltSiOfl uf •e tiou, to find uti\Cr~ t n - t t s t h :o ~ t o m e lh .. wh m •

tu le.at lt 10 .Jd lron' Inner J I J a ~ sand ~ g t h 11.nd not from innern ; " ~ . t l ~ s n ( ' S $ o1nd to sJcr.,.dov.'TI ~ n d k?.Jm :tw hai.Jn<l' ol

adi\ ty and ~ ~ to ~ M m U• bt-

Yln lypco CV.20, CVA_ Hi.8_. Kl.l, .i BLM,T.J6 Rf M

i l h M T I ~ C\ .2, (,V',4, C V, lO, fll.1J, Bl .52 Rf M

Yang lJ'P'E ~ e § 6 CV.20 , CV. 14, Kl. l Rd; CV.17, Kl.6 U

O d c i c n ~ CV.ZO, V KU, Sr.6, $T.)6 Rf; Rd.:n well .u to do. to open up ti.J

10\'fl' ..,.,_m r o n s i d . , . . ~ t i o n fat.self <11\d ot ht'r i

Wood

to tlnd tlwit inner s.:nmg th a1<1 p in1Ufcty o k'li. to ~ c n thepro;toctinn of thtu ~ " b 1 ' tt l C1'1'.ltt'

Mrong,·r boundlries to n : - d u c ~ · dwlntru)ion .t.mJ dt.tmln . klo of otht->n,

10 dc\'t'liJp their intuition to ag.n>atfr ioenW of t r ~ a J n : r and ol1he11

J'llltll ln lift<

to sk.lw do,vn and to cultiVJtt'

di,dplinC' of in.m.T « ' . to a(C

out ol ~ and C't rtiJinty,not out of impa1i.mn· and ino.er~ to lcam t t'l n:l,._,. .m J

u m n ~ to ilnd lo dcv(:lop thc>itintuition tiO thilt thev can #low

. t r m throuS,h tlfe In tu.nt.wilh thi.· n«.•' b of others

Yln lype CV.4, TE.4, CU.-40, $P.6. ST.J6 Rf; CV. H,CB.Jl E

a h M T ~ . - . t t > CV 4 BL..19, Bt.23, BL.48 Rf

a n g ~ G\ '.20, y;n tAng:. PC.S. lR.l . Kl.l Rd: L.R.8,Kl6

Fire

THE NATURE Of FIRE

The Fire elt>men t can rcpn.>sent the spirit, the univt>rsallife for<e that vivif ic:.oos matter and fonn. In hu.man beings,

the Heart Spirit vitali.zt.•s the physka1 body. the c:ncrgybody, the emo tions and the mind.

The spirit rollfcrs conscious a\''•ucnC'Ss. consciousnessof lhc life u m ~ as t man_fesls through self, through

oth ers and through all living things. This lt.>ftds to anl ~ ' f i t . . - n n ~ of unity, of com.mu.nJon, and of oneness of

bcing with all LiJe. The stronger the experience of

oneness. the stronger the feeling o joy, of bliss. and oflove for self. for others and for all things.

This cxpCri('ncc of un ity and lO\'C is the basis or all

religious e x ~ r i e n c e and ol all the great religions. The

manifestation of the spirit through an individual human

being ls h ~ higher S( ')f. For each individual. ron act with

their higher self gl\'C'S a deep inner experience of peaceand love that can radiate out through all their li\'es-.

ldentifkation with ego. the JO\\' Cr self. can bring ICM:s

ofo n t ~ c t

withtll.. lt

cxpcricntt of thes p i r i ~ .

and lead to afeeling of loss and alienation, that is the source of the

troubles of th<' world and the ill health of indi\'iduals.

LOVE AND Ff \R

Fear is the main bloc:k to the tlow of love. The ego. the

little sel . is full of fear <tod S( t.S the wOtld a.nd ol.her

people as threatffiing to its existence. To becom(' open

ilnd loving seems the Solmc as becoming \'Ulncrable, and

is avoided. The person is then living without lo\-·e, and

living and loving St t. ffi separate. When li\'ing a_nd loving

become ide-ntical. the quest is o\·er. the holy gr ail is (ound.

INNER EMI'TINESS

When th ere is 1Jck of contact with thC' fire of the spirit..

with the experience of the higher self, the person feels an

Inner empl.iness. which cann()t be filled. People try in

many way·s to fill th<.> void, to case the pain of loss. There

are many forms of compensation: drugs, sex, power,

s tud y. overv.·ork. religion, money, tnl'lterial p o ~ S ( " $ S i O n 8 ,crime, illness, and mo r(>. All the patterns of lifestyle that

'"'usc illness arise from lack of love of self. Hatred of self,m n : ~ hat.n.-d of others and of the world, causing the

psychological a1ld physical disorders of individuals and

the ills of modrm socit>ty.

CONFUSION ABOUT LOVE

With the experience of oneness with U things, comes the

fccJ ing of love and compassion for them. \'Vhen this

e:x.perience is lacking indivtduals tend to st.>ek Jove outside

thf.>mselves, in a wl.ationship ' ' i th anoth('T person. Some

people. Fire types C$pcclally. tend to confuse love \ 'o' ithpassion. love is sclOess, i'l feeling of beauty and bliss,which invigorates the bod y and min d. Passion is simply

iln intense emotion,. focused on ilnothcr person. which

c-an just as easily manifest in hatn.'d as in love. If Fire type

people do not experience Jove within themselves, they

may seek pleasure, stimulation and SCOS.ltion in sex and

relationships with other pcopk:. They often cre.ate prob

lems for themsc1nS And otherS by tht"ir thoughtless,spontaneous. overt>nthusiastic ;,nd irresponsible behav-

iour.

Copyrghled m ler



ARE AND WATER

The Fire element, the spirit, has an e)._l'ansive energy,

knowing no limits or boundaries. The Water element has

a concc.ntrativ(' energy, limiting the spirit within the

capabilitkos of an individual. Water controls Fire, ilnd

between them th(-re is balance. nw steady focusedenergy or the will js n ~ e to balance the tendency of

the Fire clement to scatter its energy in aJJ directions, andto move quickly from one object to another.

just M fe.u controls excessive joy. so (cJ.t in its positi\•csense. as em awarcn(.>SS of limitations, moderates the nowo love within the boundaries of an lndi\•idual's potential.

COMMUNICATION

The fire of the spirit welling up within an individual seeksexpresslon in communiC<ltion and sharing of ideas and

feeling, of love and aJf<..oction. Fire typt.>s often need tomoderate their s p o n a n t . ~ to rontemplate the ronsequenccs of their SJXx>eh :.nd actions, to b . U a n c ~ love ,,·ith

\'lisdom, .-.nd to have ronsidcr.1tion for other pc•opiL .

THE HEART CEI'<IRE

The Heart energy centre is seen in most t g i o n s as the

central fOCl.IS for the flow of love through an individual.

The hannony or the Dan Tian. Ht'art and 11ead centres

represents the balance between will, love and wisdomthat the aim of scU·dt: vclopment.

In terms of the organ systems. the expression of love,

the quality of the heart organ system. is balanced by the

qualities of the other four organ systems (Table 4.4).

W(')(l(l

\\ ',t ta-

M ( ~ IEalth

liverKid.nt:")''$

L 'Splt't. n

lntwtlonwiDwb.dorn.:ontt-mpl.ltion

YIN AND YANG FIRE TYPES

THE YIN FIRE TYPE

In the Yin type there is reduced manife-station of Fire in

the individual due either to Deficiency or Stagn:.tion. Inthe Delidenc..j' type, there is simply a lack of Fire and love

and joy. In the Stagnation type, the foellng is th•re. but isblocked.

In both types, lhcre ~ a s e r i o u . s n · s s a sadness, a

me lancholy, and a lack of interest in life. in relalionships

"t lif. Tl;N I ERSONALI I1' TYPES 25

and in soda ac;:tivity. Thf..• person fN:Is hmcl)•. un lovt:.-d

and unlovcablc. Howe"·cr, th.c Stagn.Hion type mny

recover for a time if the emotional blocks are loost>d, for

example. by laughter and social en tertainment Uut the

relief may be onl)' temporary since the;;., poople tend todifficulties in th e flow and lhc expression of their cm o·

tions.

THE YANG FIRE TYPE

The Fire in the Yang type seems to bum too brightly,without proper control. The Yang Fire type tends to

rt-stlt.-ss overexcitement, ovt.·renthusiasm and even to

manic behaviour. There can be excessive talking.. social or

sexual overactivhy, nnd J lack of considcrtl tion of theconsequences of speech nnd <';ction , tL>sulting in foolish or

irresponsible behaviour.

This rype tends to bum out t hcir energies. bi'coming

exhausted and depressed, or v n suicidal.

THE BALANCE

The cxtrtmcs of foolish.ncss. overexcitement and m < l n i < ~ ,or seriousness, apathy and depression, are both imbal·anCt.>d. h balance for Fire element lies in finding

love within themselves and allowing i t to radiate out

around them, but in calmness and p.:acc. T h ~ . . · n th< ·y ar<..·

lively and happy. balancing their spontaneity with con·

templation, '"isdom and strength.

LIFE LESSONS OF THE FIRE TYPES

Ti iE YIN ARE TYPE

Yin Fire typt-s c.an be divided into two groups, those

where there ls rt.-duccd manifestation of Fire due to

Deftcleilcy, and those wht:rt:· this is due to Stagnation.

DEFI IF N \

Thts can be due to gcn<'ral constitutional O c f i d ~ n c y to

specific constitutional Dcfick"''lcy of the Fire clement, toburnout o the Fire eJement. or to lack of a suitable

situation to ('11oourage development of the Fire clement.

For gener-..U OOtl ltitutitmill Deficiency, the person needs

to le.1m how slowly to build up strength and conserve

energy. For constitutional Oefidcncy of the Fire element,

th€ person needs to strengthen the hCJJt ond ciJ\."'UI.ltion

with suit.lbh: nutrition and tnot:k•rate exercise. To rom·

pcnsate for their internal Jack of Fire, they may be ~ 1 w n

Copyrghlcd m ler



26 rHEOR E'rJCAL PRINCIPLES Of P O i ~ ' l COMSINAT10N

to ht•a rt slimtJ lants_ such coffee or high d o S o l ~ of

ginseng. but they s hould avoid these. ThOS4.' whose Heartfire i.s Deficient due to bumout need to learn the g reat

c s ~ n for Yang Fire types of moderation and sobriety.

They ~ W E ' d to le:-am to a\'Oid the e xtremes in a ll things, and

to find pleasure in and hannony. ThOS(' whose

Fire i$ D1.dkicnt bccau$(' it is underde\'cl oped need toallo\" themseln•s to be drawn to work and personalsitua tions which gh·c th('lll {'njoym'-'tll and a quickening of

the a(('--clinns. to open up the H'eart centre.

ST GN TION

·rhese people need to learn how to e:..l'ress their emotions,and how to commtmicate their needs to o ther people.

They can be g r ~ a t l y helped by working in groups in

counselling and psychotherapy. to gain fluency tn com.

munic:ating their fC<'Ii.ngs.

It may t a k ~ continual dail)• di.s.cipliw.· to try to expr<>SS

thEo-ir nt.'t.Xb> and feelings to people .1nd not to letthem stagnate inside thcO\sclvcs . It ls like teaming

language, i t is only by daily practice tha t nueOC)' c,mdevelop. Sometimes writing down the feeling>, or spe.,kins th<'ffi J loud when alone.o n help to loosen th blocks.

THE YANG FIRE TYPE

These p e o p l t . ~ may have great ,tbility to in$pirc and

cnrourJge others, to communicatt> and 10 entertain, bu tthey h.we to h..1m wh en to stop. Y.1 ng Fire typtos can

exhaust themselves and olh<.'rs by C'Cas<.'ll-,s. overexcited,

twerenthusiastk rushed activit)' · They (cln crt.·att> havoc in

th(>ir own livt-\S and in those of others. by hasty, thought·

less, i r r ( · ~ J x m s i b J X - " ' - ~ h and behaviou r. They need to

tum their attention in'"'ard and learn co b.'llance love withcontem plation and wisdom. Then they c.m altow

inner fire o( spirit to rt1ditltc out through them in

sobriety.

POINT COMBINATIONS

Yin Fire type

Deficiency

Stagnaticm

Yang Fire type

CV.4, CV.I7, Kl.3. ST.36 Rf M: HT.7,

PC.7 E: H'T.8 , PC S M

alternate GV.4, GV.II , GV.20. BL.23,

BL44 RfCV.6, CV.I7. SP.4 E M: CV.23,

PC.6 E or Rd

CV. I4 , CV.I7, HT.S, Kl.l Rd: IIT.6,

K16 /lf

xample

A tn.tn o 30 was diagnosed ;u h,wlng myalgk enetophali tis.He ~ t c d .md e.ls.lly o v ~ r t l l . o t t . - d li.h. pul-,c h <IS ~ m p tchoppy. ~ J i s irn.·g;ular and ch.mging i.n 1fX '- nn d volume.The di. lgnosis D cficil'I'K)' H . l r ~ t ire w ith undcrlyins,

01.'6dcnt Qi .:md Yin of I eat1 and Kidney. The pointrombiruati(m \\'ols:

CV.2.;, C\'.14. CV. l7 E; HT.6, Kl .6 R ; Kl.l i 6 . l S' rhe C< wrnor .md Back Tr.m.sport:ng points wtre avOidi'd ,5i11ce the)' hc1d an <'ldverse n . · < ~ c t i o ill this p.11icnt.

11e found Qi Gong X c r d ' t ~ fuc.:u,in.; on the D.m l i ; ~c=cntK• and on the KI.J iln lS. to bt.o both s::rcnglhc.ning andcalming. but Qi ons (•l(<•rci <"S u ins tlw 6row <n Hl.•Jrtl"entrcs were .lvoidcd, i n ~ . ~ focusing ottcntion in those two.:u.;-a.s : t s g r ; n ~ t t . < i his ((•\ lins of u n c ; a ~ ·

- · arth

THE NATURE OF EARTH

If the Fire clement rcprt.""SCnts thl: spiri t, then the Ea rth

element represents the solid matte-r tha t the spirit vivifies,and through which can man ifest If the spirit is not

properly rooted in the solid physic..'ll body, the person can

ft>e1 ungrounded .md unrL•al, with unstable mind a_nd

E mtltions. Altemativcl}'· i p ~ o p l ~ try to deny their

physic:al body. as in ilOOrl:x l, they impair both th eir

physiology and the flow <,( Jove th rough them into their

li\·es.

EARTH AND THE MOTHER

Th" Earth t'l<-mcnt rcpn.'S<--nts the mo:hcr, not only in the

nourishment of the ph ys ic.:al body, but also in the caring,en olding and p ro tection o the small child, so that it feelssecure both ph)'sically ;md t•m otionally. If then. are

difficuJties in the first ycM o l_fc. and thc mother isunable physiC:cllly o r (•motionally 10 pro,•ide nourlshme1H,or i thl" mother feels great (c:u and lnSC'CUtity ;u Lhis time,

then, in ,, susceptible child., i t may INd to patterns of

insecmity that continue through its life.

The capacity of caring. o f pro\•lding a waml, pleasant,

solid an d stable support £or o th ers. m : ~ . y b<' \ Cry s trong inthe Spleen type, or it may be lacking or underdevclopt-'l .

H the person (eel empty in themselves. they mayu.nJblc to nurture others.

OVERCONCE RN

Concem and caring (or others is a nJ.turaJ p.nt of life and

a ma jor role of Earth eJcmcnt. However. if a person is

Copyrghlcd m Jer



insecure they may use concern (or others as a means o

holding them in their lives. They may be insecure.

clingtng a_nd ~ i v in relationships, or they may tryto dominate and iniTUde into the li\·es o others, using

th eir concern. J( they are rejected in this. they may

very sorry for themselves and try to bind others to them

by making them feel guilty.

EARTH AND THE CONTROL CYCLE

On the Control cycle o the five Elements, Earth ts

controlled b)• \\'ood, and itscH controls \Vntcr. AlkrTl;l•

th•cly. ange-r rontrols sympathy, and sympathy controls

fear. Hm . ever, there may bl back-control o Wood by

Earth where excessive oonccm limits the i.ndcpcndcnt;e

and (n. edom of otherS, creating resentment. Or there ma )'be back-control o Earth by Water, where e;u limits the

development of the ability to care for others.Hvc Eleme-nt t r e a t m ~ using the Control cycle can be

used to relieve these imbalances.

CONTEMPLATION

Contemplation, thinking and ana lysis are attributes of the

Earth demt tlt and of the rational mind. This is the part ofthe mind that d(:'.lls with both day-to-day practica l

matters, and with the logic of abstract thought. It h.u

been described as the left brain. os opposed to the right

brain which deals with intuition. more the domain of th<

Uver and Heart.i f th ere is too much thinkin1; and not enough action,

the person ma)' become lost in .1 world of obsessivethoughts, worries and mental arguments. In schizophre·

nia, the person's thoughts become divorced from the

reality of their physical body and environment.

WORRY

A person can show sympa thy and O n c ~ m \vithout trying

to hold on to or Lmit the freedom of the individual fOf'

whom they arc caring. But if sympathy and concern aremixed with fear and insecurity. th( n the person becomes

attacht d to the one they ar{' helping_ needs their i O S t ~ e s sand tries to cling on to them.

Worry is a compound of the emotions of insecurity and

conrem \\tfth the me:ntal overactivity of the Earth cle-o

ment.

THE SPLEEN CENTRE

The Sploon c:ncrgy centre, located within the body at the

THE n r"ER SONALITY l'YPl:S 27

le\'el of CV.12. has (unctions overlapping with that of the

Spleen org.1n, in that it is responsible (or the .-.ssimil.lt ion

of energy into the body and its distribution throughout

the system. Nourishment on the physical level links the

Spleen centre to Dan Tian am tre and thr.• Kidneys.

which store th e energy. Nourishment on the emotionallevel links the Spleen c e n t r ~ and the Heart Centrt', and

nourishment on the mental JcvcJ links the Spleen and

Brow centres.Therefore, Dclldcncy of Qi can be tn•ated by

CV.4 +CV. I2 Rf. Difficulty in finding <)'mpathy and ov•

fo r others can be treatt. CC with CV.J2 + CV .J-7 Rf M, and

melltal <.'Ongl'Stion und ovcractivity can be treated with

CV. l2 • )<In tong Rd.

YIN AND YANG EARTH TYPES

T I ~ E YIN EAR1'H ·rYPE

There are two main typt-s of Yin Earth pcTSona lity. h O ; < ~with lack of action and th ose '"' hO lack concern.

LACK OF ACTION

This person in an intc:rnal world of thoughts and

worries. wherl? thought is not translat4 'd into action,indeed thought may be dissociated from tc.llil)'• Thi$

group includes the ovt•rly inteli('Ctual. the worriers, the

obs4.--ssh•es and th e• schizophrenies. They are not fullyinhabiting t h ~ phystcal world or thc.ir physital body,alt_hough they may <.>ndlcssly worry about them .

LACK OF CONCERN

These > ~ r e people who feel an emptiness within themselves and find it hard to c.are (or and nourish themselves

or others. Sometiml$, in the early c;hildhood. sympathy

is overrontrollcd by fear, or else the He.ut, the mother,

c.nnot supply the love tlt<lt the Splccn, the child,transmutes into sympathy.

TH E YANG EARTH TYPE

The Yang Earth ty pes often a s:rong ability to care

for otherS, but because of their own fears._ inS«Urities and

inner emptiness, they often usc their caring to hold on toothers or co dominate their lives.

They may USt their sympathy and concern so strongly

tS to smothe-r the dc.•vdopmc-nt of those o1round them,

limiting the dc \·elopment o their independence, S€ '1f·

Copyrghlcd m ler



28 THF.ORF.TICAI. ~ P L F . S OF POINT ~ 8 : N A T I O N

confidence and their own creativity. Yang Ec.1rth types can

use f l e s . ~ e s s in " vtorv wav.Such is the rel.Jtions hip between Earth and Wood, tha t

those cared (or may bt"t-'()me resentful o the limitations of

their freedom. tht· carer Ol< l) be resen1ful that they are

tcjc<-tcd, and ye: c.1ch r c m ; ~ locked in dependence on

the other.

TH E BALANCE

The balance for tht• E. mh type is found in a quiet. calm,

log.ic<ll mind th.lt t\ln freely tm nslah • thought into practk.;;tl J c t i o n .md in a solid, sLlblc and plca.sant person,

who is sympathetic. supportive and c:aring. but dO{'S not

in trude into the livC'S of others.

LIFE LESSONS OF THE EARTH TYPES

TH E YIN EARTH TYPE

The two main Yin Earth p'Crsonatities have dU'fcrent lifelessons.

lACK OF ACfiON

The54:' people need to ltam to com(> ou t of their heads. to

fully inhabit tht•ir physical bodies, and to fully u s ~ their

physic<ll bodi<.-s in the r(•a l o utside , . orld. For some,strenuous wa lks in the fields, wQ()(b c1nd mounta ins can.

by use t)f the ph)•Sital body, and by an hlCTe3slng rapport

with the physical wo rld of n ..rure, st;.rt to bring con -

:,ci:Qu."n(:ss of th e ri J.l world.For o1hcrs, the usc or a very d et;.1iled stru cture of

positive amrmalions c.m hflp to d i,·crt the energies of the

mind (rom its o r r k ~ (md n t . g ~ l i \ ' e preoccupations into

more positiw ehannels. FO<using on th t- Dan Tian centre,

and vis ualizing ('ncrgy spreading from this centre to each

part (l( the body can be ,, vcr>• helpfu l exercise. Exetciscs

focusing on the he<ld centres are best a\'Oided.

/.tiCK OF CONCF RN

The first lesson is to le.:tm to nourish d.lld care for self.This can star: with d p l e a ~ n bc1lanced nutrilion. with

enjoyable meals. No t a d iet, whkh implies punishment of

self for being WlWOrthy. ( ~ \ r i n g for C.tn include do ing

en joyable thing.-; wh ich arc pleasant or mind and body. a

visit to the theatre • n aromatherapy tre.1tmen1 J holid.1y

in the sun, and so on.

U n l ( . ~ ,, person f<.-els that they h ~ ; . · r n s e arc worth

caring or. it JTh)y be difficult to c.arc for o thers. Qi Gong

e x e r c i . s t . ~ focushlg on the Splel'n centre with thcrnes ofnourishment and caring. can support acupuncture tr N t·

mcnt. Lucr exercises CJO focus on the Hearl centre.

THE YANG EARTH TYPE

This type needs to develop the inner strength to control

th e (ear and insecuJit)' that m11kcs them waot to hold on

to others. They also need to find a source of love within

th cmS<'Ivcs. so th .1t they do no: fe..•l the inner emptiness

that mdl:es them dependent on the presence of other

p « > p l ~ .Qi G<lng exercises for inm"T strength to control fear

c•m fo.;us on the Dan Tian centre, and to develop lO\'(' oiselL upon the Heart centre.

POINT COMBINATIONS

Yin Eorth oypeLack <,f action

Yong Earlh lype

· Tnmple

GV.20. yin tilng Rd; SP.I. ST.45 M;CV.4, CV.I2, ST.36 Rf M

CV.J2, CV.J7, HT.S, SP.2, SP.J,ST.36 RlCV.4, CV.I2, CV. I7, ST.36, LR.l,

LR.l3 Rf M

A man of 63, an lnh:lh .C'tual, tJl..ins no physin1l ...xt•t('i >t:.c:ompl.lilwd of mcn .'ll cont;C$tioo and exhaustion ;md phrsicalwe.1kncs-s. His puis<.• w.u thin, almost minute, <hoppy and

sli#'ltly wir)'·Th diagnosis wa s of Yin f.o.rth type with O ~ l ' i c i < • n t SplC"Cn

Qi d u ~ t('l t) \'Cr.lt:ti\'iry oi the mind .tnd underacri"itY o thi'body. The tn>atm(>nt was:

11.4, Bl l F.; 1.1.1, 81..67, ST. ,$"1".45 Rl M

U4 and ST.36 wert' I t> toni(v Qi ,1nd Blood,. 1.1. t :.nd ST.45

were as points on the Bright Y.1.ng <hannt>ls to dear a nd

invigorate the· mind . 8L.2 and 8L,6? w ( ' ~ uS('( -lS p<lints t }

stn>ngthcn th\' brain .1nd de u the m ind.

etal

THE NATURE OF METAL

CORPOREA L SOU L

In Chinese philosophy, the Po. thl?: Corport?al Soul, il>

linked with th e l ung org;m system a nd the Metale1emc:nt. Th e Corporeal St')ul is said to be the- densest, lhe

Copyrghlcd m lcr



most physical and the most ma terial asped of the soul of

a hum,tn bdns. It is equiv.llcnt to the energy body of

Western m ~ a p h y s k s sometimes l<llled t h ~ etheric bodyor t h ~ r k we b. The Cnrporeal Soul c)r e n ~ s r body,

t ~ r p t . ' n ~ r . l t < . ' S the physical body, and is S.Jid to be thl

(ound.' tion on which the physic..tl body c. 'OleSC\. >S. ll is

insep.uabk· ron\ t h ~ physical body, and al death. both

undergo dissolution.

SIGN IFJC,\NCE OF Ti lE OREATII

The Corporeal Soul. the en('rgy body, is constantly

vibrilling with rhythm of the br(''lthing, .1 :; the (. llCrgy

of th(' c : ~ t h cnh:rs and ~ a v c s the body. cataly.c:ing the

energy Dows within it.

1\ir and the b:t•ath have two aspects . The phy:iic.'al.

molecular aspt-ct and the f.'nergy aspect of Qi or prrma.The energy o the brcJ th connects the individual with the

fields o ent·rgy outside themselves. f::ach breath t'\lnnecbJth< inslt-h..> wilh the ou t:m_e. so that no human bt>ing can

completclr shut themsdvt.>s off ; ~ n d vdthdraw from life.

The breath is <1 c c a s . c c ~ rhythm of laking in a nd letting

go. taking in the 1\(.'(.'CSS.ary energy and m o l ~ t u from

outsid<', and Jethns so of the unnecessary, the wa sti.•s.

GRIEF

The Lungs, the MN;ll clement, ilrc involved with the

rhythm of \,,king in letting go, not only in breathing,

bu t in tht: formation and dissolution of (>f110tional attachments or bonds. These bond:; are like threads of en ergy

connecting the p<.·l $0n to the object of attachment, which

c.m lx- a ma t(·dal obj('<'t. a <hild's toy. o r another

humnn being. The SC\'Cring or dissolution of these bonds

c,1u.scs the pJin o loss und the emotion of grid.

FUNCTION OF GR IEF

Completed. grid i ll \'Oivt:.-s the de.l ring aw.1 r of uld bonds

and attachments to ma ke roon'l for tlw new. It .1Jso th rO\'/S

thl. person back on thcmsclv<'s or a rcappraisal ofidcntit}'· Grid md the Mct3 element .u like the sword of

truth, cutting bo lck the: uncsscntidl. cutting away illusi tms.

to confront the individu:.J with rc-ality.

WISDOM

Grid (ul6Js itsel in wisdom. From each <1ttachmcnt, and

from the clarifying p.lin of letting go of it, comt'S a new

level of sc.lf-knowledsc and aw.1rcnC'SS. This is \\isdom .

i HE l'f.N l1ER50NAUTY rYPES 29

\Vhen a person is s willing to let go of auadunems as

they are to form them, as frt..'<' ly as the rhyt hm of takins

in and letting go of the breath, when they arc as willingro tl(tept th(' pain of grief as tlw undcr.st>Jnding that itbrlnss, then they 3re tru.Jy wis,.,

TYPES OF GRIEF

Att<lchm('nt and grid t-an ~ l a t e to many thlngs, to

bcrt'd\Cmcnt and C p ~ r a to loss of a business or an

outlet of creativity, to loss of a p3rt of the b\xty in an

opcraHon, to Joss of femininity \Vith to loss of an

identity. Grid em relate to .my si tu..1tion where enl"Tg}'bonds ha\'C'· been fo rmed b(•twe(•n the person and the

object of thcir attachmen t.Grief c.u1come (rom identiticJtion with the suffering of

other JXOple, with the many tragedies of lhe world,

starvation, diseJsc nnd the cruclt)• of man to mnn .

Grief, the d i f f i c u of Jetting go, can also relatt to thesmall, ('On tinual day-HHiay releases of past pre<On('ep

tions. For in a relations hip. each par tner nt."t'ds

tu let go of their past im.-agcs of the other pt.r :son, as tht•y

d1.angt." and rcveal new aSJX'(tS of their persona lity.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS 01: CRJEF

Grid is a pa il)ful and dis turbing (•motion. wh ich pt.."''ple

m<l } try to avoid. In some socicti('S it is no t wholly soci.J.Ilyaccep Jble and tranquillizcrs may be prcsc.ribcd to sup

press it. Howevt>r, unre least>d grief produces the ('hronicpain of the tension between holding in J nd letting go. It

can slagnatt• th(· Qi of the lungs, causing rt"spiril tOJy

pr< blems such as dyspnoea and bronchitis. In th e op inion

of the au thor it can stagn.1tc: the Qi of tht body,

contributing to c.ucino ma.Holding on to t h ~ lump o stagn.1nt ent-rgy may

st1bstitutc for on to the l05t object of _ , f f cbut this t ncystmcnl of energy within the body may resull

in the formation of phrskal lumps. such as uterine

fibroids and ca.rcinomJs of the breasts, O ther pc.>Oplc m..ay

try to hold on to their memori l.5, withdraw i.nsidc

themselves, living in a wo rld f the past and shuttingthcmselvC$ off from p.uticip<ltion in the n t . They

may scc.-m cold, d J ' C . : ~ m y or detached. They OUI) be .:afraid

of forming further attachmen ts due to fear of the pain of

loss; th is efft>cth·ely me ans they are afraid of life.

FEAR AND GRIEF

ln the F i \ t ~ e m Promotion t..yclc. h ~ child of gric( ls

fc.u. Letting go means being alone, suffering a ioss of

Copyrghicd m ler



30 'I'HJ.OR ETICAl. PRINCIPI.£5 Of' POINT cm.UllNA I ION

identity and " little death. Grief can e closely bound to

f ~ . u fear of being alone, fear of t h ~ unknO\\'n, fear of

letting go of attachments and the fear of death, fear of

forming auachmt.."tll$ and the fear of life.If there is Deficient Kidney, the person may be too

feaduJ of failure or loss to form bonds. Jt there is Deficient

Lung Qi, the ptrs<.Jn may simply lack the energy to fonnbonds. or only be a b l ~ to form weak bonds, so that th ey

have difficulty in continuing relationships.

METAL AND THE ENERGY CENrnES

The Mctal clement and grief hJve different manifcsta·

tions according to the energy centre.

BROW CEI ffRE

Completed grief can bring wisdom and a dc-cpcr p<'t'Cl.'?"tion and perspective. Unexpressed grief c.m cause ment.1l

du llness and confusion. The point of yln tcfng can treat

this.

THROAT C£/ ffR£

This centrt deals with communication and the E.>xpression

of feelings. so that CV.22 can be used to help to re1easc:o

grief.

HEART CE/ ffRE

The difference between Heart and Lungs in relationships,

is that the Heart represents the exchange of feeling .-.nd

affection, whiJst the Lu.ngs repn."St:nt the fom1ing. maint e n n c ~ and dissolution of bond<; of emotional attach·

mcnt. Problems with both Heart and Lungs can block

the Heart centre, prevent the free flow of love and

affection ~ ..e. 'n people-. and contribute to diseases o

heart and circulo•tory systems, or to carcinoma of tht"breasts-.

SOLAR PI.E.XUS CENTRE

Fear, m x i e t y and insecurity at wparations can focus on

the Solar Plexus centre, and th loSC emotions can suppK'SS

grief, as wdl as causing phrsic:ol problems such as

restricted breathing or irritable bowel syndrome. CV. 14

c;.1n ht>lp to relieve situation.

SPLEEN CEI ffRE

Sympathy is the mother of grief, ond the obility to core forand nourish another person is necessary for the formation

o long· term attachment$. CV.12 am assist this.

DAN TIAN CENTRE

Strengthening the Dan Tian centre can rL Ciucc the fearthat ~ C n t s pt.-oplc from letting go of or starting

relationships. It CL\n also provide more energy or the

formation of bonds. CVA can be used with Reinforcing

method far this purpose, whilst CV 6 is better in rombi

Mtion with C\'.17, with Even method, to move the

Stagnant Qi of 5upprcsst:d grief and dcpTC$Sion.

REPRODUCTIVE C£,vrREGrief can st.'lgnatc che Reproductive centre and the

process of s c ~ and reproduction, causing incguhr men·struation. <y$ts. fi.broids, d ischarge or impotenre.

The grief can e at the loss of a partner, childr( n, a

business, or it can be the grief of nevc:r having hlldchildren. CV.J can be used in combination with CV.17 to

treat these problems.

YIN AND YANG METAL TYPES

THE YIN METAL TYPE

Yin Metal p e r s o n a l i t i ~ can be d i v i d ~ into two types,Deficiency and Stagnation .

DEFICIENCY

This type may have difficulties forming lasting bonds due

to DeficientQi of Lungs, and often als<:1 of Kidneys. The?y

m r be (earful of formins new relationships and with·draw from active participation in life, living in lonely

d_eams and memories of tht" past.

STAGNArtON

These people may havl' more energy. and also moreunexpressed grieJ. They may be reluctant to talk about

their grief, to fact" or to e x p r ~ s it. and they may try to

suppress it with tro.nquillizcrs, alcohol or othl"T drugs.Their internalization of grief can block satisfactory new

relationships and sometimes lead to physical Hlness.

Copyrghlcd m ler



THE YANG METAL TYPE

The Yang Metal type is the least Yong and extrovert of aU

the Yang Fi\'e FJement types. Violent public manifestationof grief, with sobbing. wailing, beating of the body. and

the tearing of Mit and clothes, is r3rc in Wcstt'm society.

It also tends to be sporadic and relatively brief. unlike the

cont inuous hypomania of the Fire type or the continuedintrusive possasivcncss of the Earth personJ.lity.

h is natural to want to help someone who is g.rie\'ing.but some Yang Metal personalities don't want tt > let go of

their grief, th ey just want to t.l1k about i t and offioJd som('

of their mist:_y on to others. Tht.")' may also hold on tobittem t '$, rest."l'\tmcnt and n.-grct about the past. and

cxtuust others with the <.·ndless repetition ol their ' "0<.-s.They may also use other people. by funning new

relationships hlmply to as..'>uttgi' the pa in of tht ir grief. and

no t bcc.1usc they have any real rcgJrd for their new

p.1rtner.

TilE BALANCE

The balance til'S in allowing the ~ s of grief, in ll. Uinggo of the past, in gaining wi5dom and in l ~ m i n g and

growing from t>ach relationship or attachment, in pwtrtl·

dpating fully in lifc ;md in fanning new bonds, withoutbeing inhibit<.-d by fear of loss.

LIFE LESSONS OF THE METAL TYPES

THE YIN METAL TYPE

DEFI IEN Y

I f Qi ls too \\'eak to fonn bonds, then the first step is tostrengthen the phy >;cal body by nutrition and moderateexercise. Qi Gong and otcupuncture con focus on the Dan

nan, Spleen and Heart centres. Strengthening the Dan

1ian centre can help to conserve energy and reduce fear.tonifying the Spleen centre can increase the ability to ht'lpand care for self and others, and strengthening the Heitrtrentre can incrca.w the flow of love and the dl"Sire to fonnbonds with others.

For those who have withdrawn into th<•msclv('S, theynet."li to learn to come $lowly out of their sad and lonelYworld of ghosts, and become stimd again by the vibrAncyof life. joy controls grid , fire l.'Ontrols Metal, and Five

E f e m ~ . - n t treatments on the Control cvcle, with needJesand much mox;a, c-.:ut hi used to help ~ e p...-.ople.

f H ~ 't tN PERSONALITY TYPI-:S 31

Sf'AGNAT/01\

The ICSSQn is letting go, in le.aming to ~ x t c m a U z c their

emotions . Meditation ca_n be helpfu1 in going dt.-cpcr and

d ~ p e r into th e self to find the ~ n g t h and peacl? to face

the truth, slowly a.nd .Jt their own speed. They need toleam that overactivity in the outer world may allow thempartly to ignore their grid. but will m)t resolve h.

TilE YANG METAL TYPE

(.>SC pt-.ooplc need first to be aware of wMt they ore

doing. that i , re fusing to look their grief and let go o

it, and us ing other people In a selfish and negath·e way.They have the e-nergy •md ability to form bonds. but m.1y

be selJ-indulgcnt in cherishing their grief. enjoying their

self-pity. and not being honest with thcmseh'es andothers. It may be useful for them to help to deal ·with the

gri'-•(s and sorrows o others. to o v c r c o m t . . ~ their sclfhh·ness, berome aware of t h ~ needs o oth(>rs, and put their

own griefs in perspective.

POINT COMBINATIONS

Yin Mel<il typeDeficiency

StJgnation

Yang Melal type

Exampit

CVA. CV. I2. CV.17.LU.IO.

HT.8. ST.36 Rf M

altcmatc GVA. GV. I2, BL.20.BL23. 81..42. 6l.44 Rf MCV.6, CV.17 EM; LU. I, LU.6,

LU.7. LJ.4 , Kl .6. 5T.40 E.>Hematc BL.I3, BL.I5, BL17.UL.U, UL.H ECV. 6. CV.17 E M; LU.7, U.4.SP.t. SP.21 , LR.t. LR.U E

A wtt1'nMI o( 35 ~ n d < d to " 'ithdraw int() hcrS.tlf, was un.Jbk'to I go oi mu<h grief from unh.1ppy p3St rel.ltk>nshlps.• ndtt:>nded to act in her n w relationship a o i f it were on of heru n s . u l ~ . , t o r y ()ld M the rq*.:ttl.'d t l i t l u h 1 e t in hltr

rel1tionships wi th cam.; from a disturbed rel.ttion ihipwith h'-'1 fathn. Her puis.." was thin. ~ : h o p p y . h indl'fCd andchanging. The lung position Vo o1S sometimt:S empty .md

somdimcs flooding.The di.lg:nosis W.l.S ~ c i < n C ) .t.nd St.:t.gnadun of Luns Qi

.1nd Dtoficie-nc)' o Heart Fit< . The point combination \ ~ . : a s :

C\ .17, 8LJ3 EM; LU.J , lU.i IC f/T.8. LU .IO. ST.J6 Rl M

Copyrghlcd m lcr



.)2 ' r H E O R o r i C A PRII'\CU't.ES OF J>QINT COMBINArtON

Water

THE NATURE OF WATER

STORAGE OF ENERGY

The Water clement, the Kidney organ systl m and the Dan

Tia1\ ~ o e r g y c eotre all relate to the storage and ronser\lation of energy, so that H can be available- w h ~ nrequired. f this stored energy bL">Comt.-s depleted. then the

person may be e x h ~ u s t e d with no reserves of strength.

Their emotional responses may be reduced, or the)' maybecome emotionally IJ.bile, since there is not enough Qi to

hold tht t • m o t i o n ~ stablt". Since Qi g i v ~ the quality of

adaptability, tht: y may avoid or postpt:mt> nlrct?Ssaryc h i ' l n g ~ . since they do not h..wc suffici<'nt Qi or OcxibiC'

bd\0)\'iour.

WILL

The '"'·m is the ability to focus 3ttention and ('ncrgy upon

a gool, with th( concentration. dctccminiltion and p c r : ~ everance to achieve i t The storOO energy o the Kidneys

combines with the will to give drive and ambition.H there is not enough Kidney (."flcrgy, and if the wiU is

weak, then the has diffkulty starting or completing tasks, is easily disrouraged by d L ( i , and l(i

gcncr.lll)' spineless in character. If lhcre is not enough

Kidney energy, and if the will i.s strong, the person mAY

bum themselves out by attempting to achieve goalsOOyond their c.1p.1city. They may loathe themselves or

tht•ir wei.l.kness and appanmt failure.

If both energy and will are strong. the pt.-rsun may be

dyn:.mic and tiJ'('I<'SS with clc.lr goals wh ich they work

ha rd and consistently to achieve. They may be charis·

malic leaders. Howeve-r, they may be ruthless and incon·siderate o their own health and of the lives of others. Ifthe strong energy .tnd will is mixed \\'ilh deep 1nsccurity

and fear. they may set> the world a > t h ~ t e n i and

c c o m ~ paranoid, suspicious, me-galomaniac, aggressive,

and obsessed with obtaining.. m. llntaining Jnd cxp 1nding

ptlwer and rontrol.

FEAR

Fear is a useful emotion in that it sets limitations and

b.-dances the t•xpansive efft.>d of tht> will and the Heart

Spirit. But an toxcx-ss of fc.u can p.1ralysc action or

a constant stress upon th e body that damages the Heart

and the t)ther o r g a n at th e r lC)t of so many lifeproblems, fear of failure, fear of los.s of control, car of

responsibility, fear of being dependent. fear of being

alone. ft>ar of illness. fear of death, fl ar of sex. fear of life,

and so on.Fear is the moth(•r of clnger and the controller of joy. II

also can inhibit sympathy and caring, and suppress the

process of grieving and letting go.

STRENGTH

The e \perience of inner slrength, of faith in life and f<tith

in self, o v e r c o m t ~ fear. Focusing on the Dan Tian centre

in Qi Gong or mediation can Si 'e relief from fear. The use

of CV.4 can assist this same effect.

WATER AND TilE ENERGY CENT RES

Table 13.1 summilrb:Ps the Kidneys and the Lower

Encfb;r centn.--s, and the effect of fear on the Heart centre

is discussed on page 167.

YI N AND YANG WATER TYPES

THE YIN \VATER TYPE

Through lack of L'1le:tgY or through (earfulnes:s, the Yt n

Water type gives up on life and surrenders control of their

own destiny. Th'-'Y simply do not do enough. ·rhings st.-emtoo n\uch effort. too difficult. too dangC1'0us, &and they lackthe detennination to achieve gools.

THE YANG WATER TYPE

The Yang \Vater type can be divided into two groups:

Ex('CSS and Deficiency.

F XCF SS

These fX-'Oplc do too much. They arc energetic, ambitiOU$

and ruthless, and sometimes reckless and foolhardy. C\'Cnseeking d.lngerous situations. They may have great stress

from the fear of losing control, and although thC)' may try

to su ppress their fears, seeing them as a fonn of weak-

ness, th{' constant emotional pfl.'l'S.5ure may damage thehcort ond the physic,\1 body.

They may b; e<>ld and lonely people. ..king S«urity

in obtaining power o v ~ othf'TS, and dominating otherSwith their will.

Copyrghlcd m lcr



DEFICIENCY

These ore people who < ither have constitutionally weakenergy and strong will . or who once had strong energyand strong will. but who bumlXI themsch·cs out by

ovcrnctivi ty. They can suffer great depression and loss of

scHrt'.Spt"'<'t. They St"e themselves as failures and wea k

lings, but their problem is that they have set t ~ v L Sinappropri<'lte or unrealistic goJis.

TilE BALANCE

The OOI.mcc is a Ann wilt but with conrem or self ando thers, not discour<l.gcd by dangt-r or difficulty, u r t ~geous but not foo lhardy. The balance lit.•s in actionproc:coffiing from inner strength : ~ n d faith in self, and not

as compensation for inner insccurities and feats.

LIFE LESSONS OF THE WATER TYPES

THE YIN WATE R TYPE

The Yin water types have to Jearn the lesson of <h.tion.

They need carefully to conserve their energy, and not toattt->mpt tasks beyond 1heir c.1p.1dtiC'S . However, thC)'

n("(-d to discipline themselves not to ddJ}'· but to act.

They tend to postpone tasks repeatedly so that thi.'$Cnever get done, and they need daily self-discipline to go

beyond this h.1bit. Once they start .1 t.tsk they must lcam

to n J ~ h it without delay.Tiley need slowly and gradually to build up their

seU·conf'idcncc by complcti.ng l.1sks of increasing diffi·cuhy and challen ge. but they must be careful not to go

beyond their abilities or they become d i s r o u ~ or

dc pn.S.Scd, and once again give up.

THE YAN G WATER TYPE

Both Excess and Deficiency types need to find their source

of inner strength ll_nd p c < ~ C ( , They need to learn to act

fn>m innerst

illness and strength, not from inner restless·ness .1nd r . They need to learn how to be. as well as

how to do, and thcv need to slow do,vn and learn them 4..'d of a balance b ~ t w e e n activity and rest. There ic a

time to be buS>'• and a time to rest and store energy.

Those who arc e s s ~ ldthout rcs-ud for others, needto learn considt'Tation, cumpa$sion and love. They need to

find strength within thcmseh'es so that th ey can open

themselves up to love, and not it as a c:Lmg'--rous

vulnerability.

t-.·teditation focusing on th e Dan Tian centre can help to

THF. TF.N PERSONALITY TrPF.S 33

rontrol fear. so that they fee-l more secure, and less driven

to gain power overothcrs. CV.4 with Reinforcing methodCM\ be combined with CV.l4 with Reducing DlC thod. toassist this.

DEFICIENCY

They howe to lc.1m that they arc not weak fai.lun.."S. but

that they need to their goals. They need to le.lmthat life can be enjoyed. it is for living, not mcf'l_'ly or

achieving an endless succession of goals.

POINT COMBINATIONS

Yin Wat<r typ< GV .20, CV.4, HT.S, Kl.l. Kl.7,BL64, ST.36 Rl M

Yllrlg W•l<r lyp<

•ltornate GV.2, GV.-1.. GV.20, 81..23,

BL.S2 Rl M

Exc"" GV.20, CV. I4, PC.6, Kl . l Rd;CV.I7. KJ.6 Rl

Deficiency GV .20, CV.4, KLJ , SP.6, ST.36 Rl;PC.6 Rd

E :ran1pie

A man ol 38_ wa5 frustmttd and deprt SSed c : n . t s ~ I lstirt dncss and dl liculty in maintdining a ' 'igorou.s exerciser<>utine. His p u ~ w4S ~ k J w . ~ p . ~ m p t y , wiry ~ n d Ooodin,t;.His tongue was pale and fuabb)'·

J h ~di.WlOSC.

W . ; J ~Of 01.•fteicnt Kidney Qi With ExeC..,$Kidney Will, and Stag.\ilnl U\•cr Qt. The flooding pulse in

this case indi<.1tcd th e strain o( txcc:ssh-c effort and prnsurcl f will, .tnd not H«1t. Th(' p¢int ('l)mbination w.:..s:

GV.20, PC.6. LR.l E; SP.3, ST.J6, Kl3 R1 M

CVA. wa not U$1.-d iuitiatl\', .. i.n c ; a ~ thi.s m..1n . : x • : r c i . ~ ~ . - d.m'<l)' his last rocr\'cs o citerg)'· l-Ie was ad\'iscd temporarilyto I'Cdu.c., h.is I. Xt:rciH• routine to give:.• the 1 . a ~ p u n c t u r e a clmncl.'to work, and to subst itute h 'O sessions of S\\'imming perwe-ek ror some or th c joggins.. sin X long -term tho.'lt wouJdincrease his e ndurance and the strength of his muscles. 1'h.elde.1 i n d this w;l S simpl)· to gt•t him to n._-d.ucc his cxressivcE'xercise routine.

oo

THE NATURE OF WOOD

INTUITION

Th li > Hun, or Spiritual Soul, is related to the Wood element

and to th e L i v ~ . It is associated \otith intuition, imagina-

Copyrghlcd m ler



34 TUEOklmC AL PRINCU"LES Of POINi COMSI NAi iON

tion, and the right side of the brain. lntui ion is the abilit)'

t" feel and percciv._• overall p.1t:ems. in perspt>Ciive. Jt is,,.

romplcmcntary < u l t y to the JnJ.lytical mind ctssodatcd

with the Spleen. and the left side of the brain.Intuition can givt-;) dc.-.r pktu r(' of th t\ main thrt-ads of

.1 person s lif(', or it can give .1 fc dinJ; of rightness .1bout

a p.1rticular course of action. It C<'ln gh·e an insight into thepole:ntial unfolding o ; personality, nnd it can give ,,

strong sense of dir<'<.iion in life.

PLANS AND DECISIONS

The Wood element is linked to the abiiHy to moke pb.nsand t make dt-'d Jions. Thls .1bility is cln e x t e n ~ i o n into the

ana lytical mind oi the function of intuition to an

overall pattern ,md to know how it (.'0\J.Id un(old. T h ~analytical ability of planning dnd decision·rnaking, and

the intuitive ab ility to pcT<'\"ivt• pJttems of the pa st andprc:scnt unfolding into the future? a.rc complementary.

Out, when planning and dKision·making have lost con·

nec.1io n with the person's inner unfolding, tht>n their life

can bt."CQmc filled with d.ifficultics fmst:rJtions,

problem of the moclt:m world partly Lhat sx-oplc

rarely trained in the irHllitive ia t'ulty. an d partly that

it is difficult for mind, ~ m o t i o n s and body to rda.x

sufti:dently (o ' intuitioll to function.

INNER PRESSURE

M:my \Vood pc<1plc fct;l on inner rcstlt..'SS prcssu.rc of~ n c r g y :hat secrns to need release in action. This Inner

pr...-ssurc tends to mnk<' them live and wo rk <'H sp('(>d, .1nd

to become- imp.'ltienl, irrittlbiC' and angry when progressbecomes tO() slow to meet their mood. This pressure cangive stress to thcmsl'lv(os .1nd to those who li\'e ond work

around I hem.rt thl y Surrender tO thi.i in ner preSSUN, and tht- net.'d

for speedy action they c.1n ma ke m.lny unwise decisions,

that .uc nol based on their o wn inner needs, but simpl)'

on th d r dc:;irc lor a rapid de-cision. so that they Ctn ·geton with it . Thcy arc the kind o people likely to 'jump out

o£ the frying pan into the fire·.

FRUSTilATION AND DErRESSION

When Wood people c.1nno1 se their p>tth in life, so that

they have no > < l l i ~ f a ~ f o outlet fQr crcativil)'.cxpn:.-ssion and Sl.'lf ..growth, th('y <:Jn beroml.' frustrated

and depressed. This c:-;m also hJ ppcn i( they lose conl.lct

with their intuition and make unsuitable plans and

dedsions. They are vel')' sensitive to the feeling, of being

blocked a nd obstructed in their live-s. but so often crtatc

these s:iluoH ion ': or themselves.

SUI'I'RESSION OF EMOTIONS

Milll)' p-. op e, whelht>r by na tme Yin or Yang Woodtypes. suppress their Jngt"r ;md irriuttion, eith er bcc:tusc

they fear the consc:qucnccs of cxpre.ssion. or b«.mse they

r, <.·l it is wrong. This is espt'Cia lly tme- uf WOO<.J- Earthtyp.--s who wish to appear pleasan t. car ins and n ice.

However, the p h ~ · c a l conscqu("f''C::cs of ~ u p p r e s s i o n of

angt:'r can rang(' from hcadach(" a nd irril·able bowelS)11dromc to myoc.1rdial infarction lnd cerebrovascular

i Ccidcnt. Also, SOtne degree o£ expression of "'nger can lxne<t"SSMY to t..>stablish boundari(-s. t>specially in those Yin\Vt)l">d typ&s who allow themselves to be dominated byoU\cr people.

SELF-EXPRESSION

The \Vood clement ha.s cxp;:tnsivc energy, it is th e

clt:mcnt of birth, growth and : : o ~ · p r e ~ ~ i o n Jndeed.

some Yang Wood types try to usc thC poopl l > around thtmmerdy JS a Ol fo'IJ\S to cxp.1nd the seff . p r c s s i o n of th('ir

own t.•gos.Many Wood people like movt:"ment. travel .md change.

b(."Causc they hall' the fc-cli ng of stasis, st.1gnation a.nd

t . " S K m , to wh ich thcr dre prune. They can be

im patient for scll·grO\\'th. personal change .1nd develop·

mcnt, oftt'fl because their lack of paticnc(' :.m d inability to

use th eir intuitioll has put them in J s ituation of inter·woven difficultk"S.

The \'\'ood element can h.wc a rather )'OUthful aspect oimp.'tt iencc with oonst.rn i.nl .tnd limil...1tion, dl"Si.rc for

frCi dOm and independence·. and a fC"('ling of rebellion and

aggrcssion towards restraining authority. The mature

expression of the Wood elcm<.>nt is the baku1t.'C betw(•eo

~ d o m and n ~ p o n s

YIN AND YANG WOOD TYPES

THE YlN WOOD TYI'E

The Yin Wood type often has Deficient Kidm.y Qi, so that

they have weak sense (lf self and insufficil nt personal

force. They arc un$ure of their own identity and pa th in

life. unccrt.tin of their opinions and decision.. and finddifficulty in expressing their ow n t:'go, so t h : ~ t they h;,ve

weak bound.;uics :md :tre Nsily influenced and domi·

n.1ted by others. They are timid, Jack t.-onfidl'ncc, .and a n ~plagued by sel f-doubt.

Copyrghlcd m lcr





6 THEORETICAL PRINC IPl.f.S OF POINT C O M B I ~ A T I O N

CV.4. CV.I2. GB.<O. 5T.l6 Kl.3 Rl: GV.20. GO.lO E~ t e m • DLIS. BL19 B L ~ O BL.23. Rl; BL48 Bl.49 E

This chaptCT has J s c u s ~ tht> t w Yin and the five YangpersoMlity types. General discussion of the Yin-Yang is

given in the n(. Xt chapter.

opyrghlcd m lcr



aintainingthe b l nce 5of Yin nd Yang

Y;mg i v ~ energy. m o · e m t ~ n t and warmth; Yin gives solidity. nouris hm( flt, t u r ~ .rootncss and I"CSt. The h < ~ . r m o n i o u s babnre of Yin .-.nd Yang givl'S health and

contentment .Yin·Yang imbalance is at the root of much illness, whether physical or psychological.

ccsshrc Y.1ng, or Deficient Yin, mc.1ns excessive activity, movement, hc.1t and

d r y n t with lack of rest due to lnsuff'icicnt, rlourishmcn t and grounding of the Ht:.ulSpirit. Excessive Yin. or Dcflcient Y.lng_ mc.lns lack of physical. t motional < tnd mental

movement, with exccssh·c Cold and 0.1mp.

DEFICIENT YIN AND DEFICIENT YANG

People may inherit t lr develop a con >titution which is basically Deficient Yin o r

Deficient Yang. This affects pathology. For example, \·Vind invasion of a Deficie nt Yin

type person will tend tl) hcwe a Wind HeJt reaction in the body whilst Wind inv Js ion

of a Q('fkient YttnS type will tend to ha ve < I Wmd Cold reaction in the body. Be1ween

invasions. the Deficient Yin type m.1y benefit from Kl.6 + LU.S Rf while the Dcfid<'ntYang type may benefit from K1.7 • ST.36 Rf M.

Cul tural dlffercnC't.S will afft.'Ct the numbN manift--stlng Deficient Yln or Deficient

Y.1ng signs ln a population. for cxampl(.', 01 rura) society with physical overwork,

exposure to Wind, Cold and 0Jmp, and ma lnu trition, m.t}' tend to Deficient Yang. Anindustrial society with mental ..werv.•otk. and high levels of stress, g re.-1ttr i n t ~ k ( ' of rkh

foods_ and exposure to central h ~ a r i m.a)• tend mort> to ~ f i d e n t Yin.

DEFICIENCY OF YIN IN MODERN SOCI ETY

Modem life ccntn--s round C t : c \ S l ~ l c s s strl'SS(ul activi ly. To a grt•;u extent, four th ings

h:.vc OOcn lost;

rest

sleepintuition

i n n ~ r strength.

The loss of these four things relates to the loss o the deep feelings o peace. calmnl"SSand tranquillity. that rom1.'S fnmt contact with the inm.f self. ·rhc e-<p('1iene(.• of th e

inner self is the expe rience of the balance bctw.:cn Yin and Yang. There Lo; sc n sc ofinner peace. Yin, at the same time as an experi{'t'li.'t' o energy and strength . Yang.

37Copyrghlcd m ter



REST

True rnt is r.1re in the nlOdcm "orld. Much of \\•hat

pl ()plc call rest is ~ . s s o c i a t e d with ment3l m·erstitnu1ation.wh( thrr r u ~ tdevislon, \·ideo.garnt..'S or wh:H t'Vt r. The

result o this i$- that Yin is nol proper )• t'\1plcnishcd, so

th at P'-'(Jple become increasingly U1Cd . ~ n ~ l k ' ~ . Tiley1n.:"Y nllem.ue between the usc of stlmultJnts such ascoffct' or a m p h e t ; ~ m to si"c them en ergy or e.xcite

mL•nt. and the U K' or tranqulllitt.•r$ t ~ n d n J r c o t i ~ o giv\ ' a

i ' m p o r ~ r y outifi<UI c .11 lm .

SLEEP

In m o ~ m life. the world of d.ayhmt> nu.·ntal acti\'i ty and

stress htts encroached into the world or talccp. so thatsleep is ofh.•n of poor quality. and the pt•rson ch-.cs not

aw.1kc rclrcshed In the morning. ~ the p r e v r l n ( ' t )o insomni:t and the widesprcJd usc o hypnotic drugs

indicate the extent of this problem. Slc'-'P is not merely .,

m5o 'tion of physical acti\'ity. it i s ; ~ st.11e of being which

is e e s ~ r y for the daily regeneration of mind ;tnd body.Lad . of $k-cp means OefKil' nt Yin. h hkh in tum can

cause insomnia in the night ~ n d n . ~ t l e s s n e s s in th(t day.

tN"rumoN

TI1e world or si•'CP is alllt'd with the right side of the

brnin, with dreaming. imagination and intuition. Analysisand intuition arc com plementary r.lculti cs. but the balcmct.• betwt.>en them has been lost. In the modem worldthc:r\1 is great overemphasis on analysl$ and gre.1t underdcvc.lopment u( intuition. l...o$5 o the intuitive: ability

gre.uly lnae.Jses the level of unt"t'rt.J int )• and stress.

le><l•ng to lunheT depletion ol Yin.Without intuition, it is difficult for proplc to sec: lhrir

poth In llf• and easy r them to b<rome t-ntongled in thelong·wrm stressful consequences of unwise dMslons.

lNNEll STllENCTH

Inner st rength can be developed by the daily discipline or

routine of dt-eply rcl.uins the mlnd to experience directlythe balan<'C of Yin-Yang. Th.i.$ simu1t.1neou.s experience orp c ~ and Stn >flgth can then be al)owed to Row out into the

life. Thu.s. outer strength is based on inntr strength and

5tillnm.Most people l'XJ"'nd their energy In ccnstant stressful

a<tivity in the exlerrutl world, con5t.tntly ~ k i n g outside

or hems. lvcs for the peace and t r c n g t h th at can only be

round within. By doing this, they deplete their Yin, and

shut h ' t m ~ I H ~ off (rom the SOUl\ t or h ~ l r rt•411 s trength.

lREATMENT OF DEFICIENT YIN

Deficient Yin c.ln bC truatcd s y m m . . t k ~ l l y with points

lit..e SP.6 ,uu.l Kl6, but this is not enough to lxlthr t ~ p l h Yin and prevent fu tu re Deficiency. A more

thorough trc.ttmcnt of Deficient Yin h;.$ several aspects:

tonlly Qi

tonih· \'ind ~ Rrecalm t ~ Spi1i1

den k>p tnner JX'aC"C af)d strcn&th

readjust SOJ15.

T O N I ~ Y Ql

Dcfid•nt Yin is oflen bdsed on Oelki<nt Q i. lf h e r ~ Is not

enough Qi to hold thing5 the patient may altcm tebet"'t.ootn Ot.:ftcicnl Yin and 0...-ficicnt Yang. Exo1mplcs of

this are milnic d e p ~ i o n and menop.1us.d alternation.'betw I<S'Iinll o hl>a t and leelmgs of cold.

Points <uch u ST 36 or SP.J that tomf)· Qi and Bloodtal be used, in additioo to neutral points. such as BL23.CV.4 Kt3 th11 s t a b i J i : ? ~ the balan('C bctwN':n Yin ond

Yang by stnmgthcning Qi.

T O N I ~ Y YIN

Points like. SP.6 r.nd Kl.6 can be used to s t r c n ~ t h ( ' n Yin in

general, and points lil<e w ; and tff.6 can be used to

tonifr the Yin ol specific organs.

DISPERSE FIRE

The 5)"tcm of reducing the Fire point and rdnforcing the

Water point Is d f<Ctlve. e.g. "-'1.2 Rd .,. KI.I ORl. II the Fire

is morec r x t ~ m c .

thet ~ ? m

of redudng both Well pointand Spring point con be ad.lptcd, e.g. KJ.l • Kl.2 Rd.

CALM THE SPIRIT

In addition to the points ju.st given., to tomfy Ytn and to

disperse Fire. other point$ can be usro co rnlm the Spirit.di.'pcndlng on t h ~ situatiott and on the energy o_--ntre

affected. f-or CX4mple:

CV. I4 for Deficient Yin 1-"th (c,u

111



CV.I7

an mi<1n

GV.20

for Deficient Yin with overexdh:.'fnent

or an.xiety

for Deficient Yin with mental restless

nessfor Dcficicnl Yin +Ocfidcnt Blood withinsomniafor Deficien t Yin +H)·peracti\'C liverYangfor Deficient Yin with insomnia and

n ~ m · d i s l b c d sh."Cp.

DEVELOP INNER PEACE AND STRENGTH

This can only happt'n when patients rea lize tha t their

greatest resources lie within themselves. and when theymake a daily routine of rclax.ation and meditation c x c rc:iscs that allow thcr.n to contact thc54: rcsourt'Cs. a.nd bringthem out into their li ves.

Acupuncture can open a window of opportunity. and

the practitioner c.m give instruction and support, but it is

only the patient s daily appUcation that will lead them toa direct experience of the balance between Yin and Yang..

the experience of unity.

READJUST GOALS

1'¥t'any people in the modem world, set tht..•rnselvt.'S goals

thJ.t are inappropriate to their pcrsonaiHy, b'-'yond their

capacity. or impossible within a given time limit. s a

result they bum out h ~ r resf:rves of energy a_nd su ffer

both exhaustion and deprt Ssion- S4."e Chapter 34.

Patient counselling is necessary i f they arc cv(.•r torebu.i ld the Qi and Yin, so that they undmtand them

~ v c s , both their abil itit.-s and limitations. select goals

within their capacity••md .li Ow themselves time to restand recover.

Combi nations such as GV .20 • K1.1 Rd can only be

used to rcl.lx the will if thC' pc"'ticnt is lik<'1y to i l ~ p t the

sensation of exhaustion that may follow the use of tht.'5<.'

points - see Chapter 4 on life lessons of the

J'CI ' • ity types.

YIN AND YANG PERSONALITY TYPES

Each of the Five Elements ha s a Yin and Yang

personality type. E.lch of these 10 types tends to characteristic illnesses and life problems. For each of the Fi\'e

Elements there is a s tate of balance between Yin and

Yang. and each of the 10 p('rsonality types can p r ~towards this ba:IJ.nce by learning the particu lar lessons of

their type. This is discussed in detail in Ch apter 4, and

MAI;\ AIN I]'.;G niE 8At.ANCE OF YIN AND 'YANG 39

point combinotions for the 10 personolit}' trpes J;J C

summarized In Table

FEMALE AND MALE

E.Jch human being can focus their attention on thei r inner

self, lhe Yin or female nspcc.t. or on the outer world, the

Yang or male aspect. The inner and outer aspects are

complementary, and w h ~ n an individual overemph<l.Si2:CSt ither of th(.-,e Mp<:ds there is imb.llancc.

Yang must have> its foundation in Yin. ActJvity in t h t . ~outer world, Yang. needs to be foundl?d on a strong

contact with the inner self, Yin. E.xtcrior Jctivity ncNs to

c crivc- from inner s i l l n l ~ : : ; and s trength and to be .t

natural ~ ~ n c E of the unfolding and t?xpression of a

peT5on's inner potenti.11 or life p.1th. Yang 01nd Yin M'e

then working together in harmony.

Man)' pt'(lpfe in the modem world have lost contactwith their n n ~ self. so that the-y ~ ~ c n c ~ separation of

Y mg and Yin. Titeir cxtemalactivity does not derive rom

inner s tillness and strength. but from inner r e s t ~ n s sand weakness. as a compens.."'t ion for the loss of oontact

t . th the inner self. Much of their c : r i o n s res ult not from

their il\nl'r un fo lding_ but as a conS<.'t}ucntt of r ~ · i n g tot.>scapc the tangled consequences of being out of tun l"

wi th this. . : ~ n g has n its founda tions in Yin, so that Yinand Yang become depleted, and individuals experience

the inner discomfort of Yin -Yang imbalanre.

Men and women each have their male ilnd female

a . . < ~ p t • c t s . each have their Yang and their Yin. A-; ag e n e r i l l i z . l t l o n in men 1he Yang is ernph.lsi?.cd and in

women the Yin. In women there tends to be l stronger

link with the inncr-S<.•IJ and with intuition, in men thcl'('

is stronger tendency to lx> active a nd asserth•e in theouter world.

PI OBLEMS FOR MEN

For men. the problem has always been ovt>rem phasis on

e:xtema.l acti\'ity, Y,;mg. and .1 loss of ronb1ct with the

innt.-r world, Yin. This not on lyr l . ~ u l t s

in burnout of Yinbut a lso in loss of contact with the softer Yin qualities oftC11dcmcss, compassion and anng This results in a

world of fear. inscru.rity. hatred, aggress ion, warfare andt.-rucl ty, which <lfft."Cts buth men c1nd women.

Since the focus of men is outward, they tend to have

difficulty in devt>loping th eir intuition, ilnd achieving a

l < ~ n between intuition and analysis. This is aggra

vated b)' the modem overemphasis on .malysls and thelack of tru >t or training in int\1ition, which is the \'Oicc of

the inner self.To correct this in1balunce, mc)St men n(oed to learn to

Copyrghled m ler



din.·ct their attention inward. to cn.-.uc d •trong(.'1' cont.1ctwith che lnntr selr. 11t0 thilt they c:en bnng more of the

feminine quolbtil'"S of the inner M>lf otll Into their I1V('$ .tnd

into thl world around them.

PROBLEMS FOR WOMEN

In most of the sodeti< S of the p.ut, the problt'tlt ror

womrn wa, c-xh.1ustion of Yin throush continual child·birth and c-hlk Colrt. .

In modt-m society. 3 $ , ~ · o m e n l>N'olne mot"'e arn,·e in

lht• "'-lcm.ll worid. they are incn.·.uinsJy suffering from

tht· s.anw problems as men. in O\'('n"fnph.htS of Yang.. lossor ront.lct wuh the inner-5('1( o ~ n d lnruhK>O. and the

burnout o Yin. Thls is rcHocteJ in ·' change in disc.tScpatterns. fur cx41mplc. an incredse In my{)('.,Jial infarc

Hon. In ~ d d i t i M t , not only Jo many w o m ~ n have th('

double lo:\d of motherh ood and job, bu t .liSO this is n limeo confwlon ;.nd uncertainty "bout thl. ' n:.'ltun: oi ft.•mi

nlulty. and the n « ' of the male and ( ~ , . • m a h . • •.b5)('C'ts for

women.

Whilst womC"n l('nd to h<wc ; ~ t u r o J i l y ttronst-r contact

with the lnnt."r-sclJ and intuition. they oflm find it

d•fficvlt to trust their n t u i l i o n l in• by 1t, .md bnng 1t mlo

d ~ outtt woTkl cspcciaUr in the current durwtt' of thc

wor:thip o a n o ~ l y s b and logic. r-or women with (ull•timc

iobs t ~ n d rnn.oers. th\ re is the doubt< d•lngl.'r of t h ~ovcn.·mphasis o the Y.lng or ma l(' .upcct. and ol th e

St;lgn•.Hion ol the Yin, or fcmalt: e n c r t t k Acupunctureand ~ . ~ l i < l l l o can both help to a r n l H n i t \ ~ the Yi n-Yang

b.lt<ln C'I). Points orl the ConC\"ption ch.mncl co11 be com

bined wilh Extra channel O p c n i n ~ po i.nts o.s ..t b.uis fort r e . : ~ t m ~ n t . Polnl combindtiOil o for 1h t: Yin IUld Y.111g E..:trd

channel pcrson.llily types are discussed m Chapter JO and

s u m m o ~ n U ' d m T.1ble 10.5.

CHILDREN AND YIN-YANG

E.lrly childhood U a time or acting out o the innl'r world.A time of Jiving from the im.lgin.uion, a l i m ~ of the

d e v t ' n ~ m and growth of Yin,

In \Vt SICnl society there iJ inCTC.uins pr(>S Surc onchildren to look . ~ m d beh.a\'e like f t l . . n n g ~ , . l S or even liketldults. Al-.o. tn a large exll.'flt , t.ht' d e w l v p r n ~ n of the

imagin:'ltion has bt."Cn replac;ed by i d c o s . a m c ~ and telt"\' ision. This di."\.:Sluation and short('fling of d1ildhood is

not simply tht> Joss of • magic t i m ~ in life. it is aw t ~ k t n 1 n g olthe dl"Ve opment of the Yin qu.thhes which

fonn the foundations o .tduh l i f ~ .Th is situation is . : ~ d e ' ' ~ - l ) r . , ( b)' the cu".:-nl weakening

of rhl' (,lnuly and social structtzre. o > ~ n d b)' the confusion

41bout t h ~ noature and roi<'S of men :md women. ldt-.tll)',

c h i l d r ~ nt. C'\.1 10 e:..pcrience both the YJng .md t h ~ Yin

qualities of th" father. and both thr Y•ng and the- YinquJiitl(.\'5 of the n\Other. They ni.'i d to rxpcnt:'ncc the

masculine .ruu.t feminine aspects ol both par<'nl:s, so that

their own mllk._fcmc'lle b,,lancc c;,,n dcvdop h.umo11i·ously .

In reallt 11 many childretl grow up in on <'·p. ucn t fomU-Ih S, whil) l the 1t\11 joritr develop in lamilict where the

r a r e n t ~ ; Mi rwilhvr in baJan cti> wilh t h 4 . · m ~ l v l ~ nor l'3C'hother. Jn Lh('Se conditions or ronlu.s.ioll, ronnict, insecurity

and uno;-rt.ainty, .nisc not only childhood disc.1M'S 01nd

juwnite crimtt, but al..o an unstabJe foundation for .ldult

hfe. Acupuncture treatment of c-hildrt"f'' 11 lh"'Tt(ore vny

often e n h u ~ by acupuncture tr('.Jtmrnt a.nd rnun..o;el -lanz;: of l hl." p._.ltl.'flb

YTN-YANG AND THE AGEING PROCESS

In th.: \\'t')ttm world, the pressure for children Jnd

t('("'agci S I ~ ~ to lvok nnd act like Olduhs. For >ldults, thert' is

cnormoui prt ' iSUn' to mai ntain d youthful ..ppc:uomce,C\'t.•n in old S : ~ lndl-t.-d. dut" to 11 l o s ~ o conWet \\'ilh the

inne-r I f . p e e p ~ identify ";th their external p p e d r d ~ .and cannot aca."PI the ageing ~

AI mtdHie. b..."'thC\"1\ .1bout 40 oJnd 50 yt".ns of Jge. there

is 6n opportunity tu g.tin sreat s:rength Jnd hisdom byassimililhng the • • x p e r i ~ n : e : e s of ~ d u l t life, and ronhnuing

. dive hfc with a deeper understandin,; ilnd awartm"Ss.

Midlife b ,, time whl.'n the (jUality of V A n ~ c,'lr, tx o

incroJscd by 1'\.--tun\ to Yin, and the '(' c : ~ m be the

; ~ b l f 1 1 h m c n t ol : 1 n'' ' b:.t.,n cc o Yin .Y.ltlfi: . However-,o r m.ln)'• thi:t opportunity is rt.'3trili(-d by Cl ft'Cii •,g of

despair at growing old and an dUempr hold un to t h ~past.

Jn old "S'-'· from 65 onwards, there is .1 d d i n of Y.tng,o1 rt'duC1jon in uutt<r acti\•it y. o ~ n d a return to Yin. II people

~ C < . ' l 1 this, old .J);t> can be a time of ' d..-\elopment

and w n t ( . o n t m ~ t but 1f tht'v do not. it can be a time of

frus.tr..,tion, bitterness and d ~ s i o n .The F.>.tr.t dhmnd pairs ant (Mnicularly useful in

h"Nting physko l and psychologic;.>ll problrnl'i ~ u . s o d a t e dwith tlw diffcn.•nt mojor st.Jgt-s of dcl'clopnlcn t.•l

p rocess. and ill rt>-est.tblis hillg Yin - Yang bll lmce .11

(>ach phtlsc.

TREATMENT OF DEFICIENT YANG

The empha.J,of ~ t i o n has been on the urlgin$ .md

t r e o ~ t : n ' l \ . ~ 1 of DcfkKmt Yin. However, th...,-p an.• those who

arr Odkicnt Yon& c1thcr br ronstitution. physic:.d O\"Cr'•

work and .. .po;urc to Cokl. or b...'C.auw they \\' trc

originally healthy or ~ f i d t n l Yin, but bumt>d our thi."irYang by stn•5s ful activity.

C py I I m ·n



~ m e n t of Dolicirnt Yang lw fe\'cr>t .upoos:

tonify Qi

tonify Ynsdispc,... Cold and Damprcliuw dl'prt: Sion

p r c vfutu ro bu 'out.

TONIFY Ql

To provide • solid found a tion for Yang. it is n<tt>Sdry to

tonify Qi. Blood •nd Yin. This n bo o n ~ ''th rombi·

notions li ST.36 Rl M; SP.6 Rf.

TO:-.I FY YAN

Yang ltsol( can be streng1hmed by noc<llil or moxa on

•uch points •• GV. l . CV.4• GV. l 1 and C V.20. The Yang$pedfk organJ c:nn be treated with nt"l'<llc d snox on

the Fire point of tha t organ. e.g. KI.2. LR.2. SP.2, HT.S.I'C.S, LU. IO or Governoror Bl•dder point associaled. e.g.

C V. II and BL IS for the Heart.

DISPERSE COLD AND DA-\IP

In ro needle .md moxa o the Fire points. Cold

ond Damp con be dispersed by the use of 5uch points as

CV.6. CV.8, CV.9, CV.I2, ST.36. ST.40 and SP.9 with

Relnfordng method .lnd moxa.

REI.IEVE DEI'RESSION

Oefirlent Yang con lead to l•ck of o v ~ m e n l of bo th mind

and omotions. partly due to O...ficiency, and partly due to

thr Stagnation that follow·s iL Points c-.m be c l w s . . _ ~according to the sh uatk>n and the ene-rgy cenlrtlS affc. ( tfd.For f'XJ mpte, CV.3 • CV.6 or depre$$ion ·'ith infert ility,v 3 +CV. 17 ror with lm."gUlitr m-.:·nstruAt ion.

CV.6 • CV. I4 fur fcdrful depns<ion wllh l><k of will. A l l

points can be US(.-d with E,.en method and mo-.:a.

l'REVE. IIT FUTURE BURJ\ OUT

For those- \\ho ha\·t beromt Dl fident Y ~ n g due to

burnout there is • problem that soon .s hey &'' alittle man e n ~ r g y . thclr rcstles.sncss lllnd (I'U61ration ~tend O the 't>rilCtivUy that burn OUt Y.,ng .tgAin

Moxa must be used "'ith great caution with thesepatil nts. sin ce they can e 1 sily dunge (rom Delidenl Ymg

ba ck to DcOdenl Yin. Points need to lx.- iiddtd to C <llm th(•

mind and to rcl,u: th e '''ill, SU(h as GV .9, CV.20. y\n t.ing,BL7, GB.I 3, CV.I4, KLI .and KL7. Tiwse point• con be

used h'i th Even or Redudng method, p m v l d i 01hcrpoims are tonlfil<d to 'trengthl n Qi and Y;mg.

YIN-YANG AND THE FOUR IMBALANCES

The ne-.ct ch.lpter exp._lnds the- dassific01tion of d&sharmo

njes into Yin or Ytlng, by using the concept o the four

main irnbalan«-s o Qi, Ocficit•ncy. Exn.-ss, Stagnation m dlm'gularlty.

()('fldency .md Stagnation .:are rc-lati\'cly Yin, nnd E . ~ c c t t sand lmgul.11it)' are relatively Yang:

Yin Y•ngetidency E'(ttSS

S 'gn•tlon lmsu.Luity



Deficiency Excess

Stagnation andrregularity

The concept of the four main Qi imbalances w.ls developed by the author .-.so system

of the classification of disharmonies. which could be used to in h:gratc acupundurc.energy work .md medit.lt1on. Once the dish;nm<,ny has been classified in this way,. th e

principle of lreiltm£.-nt is the s.am( in all three therapi<.-s.

THE FOUR MAIN QI IMB ALANCES

·rh e four main Qi imbalances are i)(oficiency, Excess, St.lgnation and hTCgularily. All Qi

disharmonies enn be classified in terms of these four main imb.lkmc('S or their

<:Qm binations.

EF N T ONS

Deficiency is a Jack of enero-y, t:>ither in the body as a whole, or in specific organs, or

body pam. Stagnation is insufficient movement in or beh,·een specific chaMels,

organs or parts. t is assodated with blocks or obstructions in the Oows of enl rgy.There may be Oefici('llcy of energy in front of a block and Excess of onorgy

. : ~ c c u m u l a t c d behind it. Irregularity is disturb.tncc in the smooth flow of energy within

or between channels. organs or pa rts with asS< >Cia ted b a n c ~ in physical

functions. emotions and behaviour.

. / · r ~ ~ ·S••a••<ion

Fig. 6.1 four m.t.ln Ql lmN .JJ1t'ts.

43

6

Copyrghled m ler



~ - ' TUf.'ORE'ffCAL I"KJNCIPIJ:S OF I'ONf O \ l 8 1 ~ A T I 0 \ . t

E_'(.tmples of l r r e g u l ~ : r i t ) .tre shown In T J b l ~ 6. 1.

R ~ b t U b » t.un,:t W y ( ~ , . ,

ln,•aJ.,..., li wrtllyJ•vnttiW Uvf't Ymg

D l . ; m r t t • n ~ of' I lean SplrhRt-bti iJoOUt f ~ ' n ' Qi

"""''liKJ .b Stoo..l<h Ql

PUI.SES

Ailment

rough, btluru

fl .uful .1m:i'lih'dimn ' ', lnii"'btluy. h i ~ ~NniA, hf\. Nib, drcdm-dMu•t t sk ep

d i . t n - h 0 1 . l x > r b v • " ) s m ~nauo.ea. \UI'Iilln& f . ~ n s . hl«uJ

Each of the few main imbalanre, can be JUOciJtrd , .. th

a group uf pulses as sho\'tn in T.1ble 6.2.

ltllbabntc

0.: id 't 'I( 'V

. . ....St:otsnahM

m ~ l . t r

Pul•e 8fOUpt

t-mpl y, ch.ln. d"'PPY• m ~ n : u : erulf. lloo.l."J'WW¥, htndt"l"((d

t ~ \ 1 1 1 1 r N n ~ ~ t n o d

In tlus dltlpltr, tht ;rords tmpry. full, wiry 4nd ' fSUl r will

bt ustd to indicalt thrir a p c c t i r r ~ puiJt J ,'f"'ups. If llrt word'tmpty' b uud a.s i Tablt6A and F;grtrt 6.2, for rxample.i l CDII hrdicutt any unt iJj tlrr ,,,ur fmlsrs m tltt Drfoc•imryRfOUp

PRI NC IPLES OF TREAniENI

For the four basic imbalances. the SJmc principles of

lre41mcrU .tpply whether the p r . l C ' t i t i o n ~ r wcs 010.1punc·

lure, ent.-rgy techniques ()( medit . ion.

tonify Ddirit"ncy

d ~ p c : r s e E.,n.,.s

MO 'I.C Stagnationcalm lr rl'gu louity.

irrogulot

~ < . T > ~Shgn.ton

wiry

ns. ,, ·nw pulk' 51U\Jf"5 of tht: {o .n mb.tl.-n..:n.

~ I E T I 1 0 0 5 OF TREATMEI'>I

The methods of tre.ltment using acup un<turc Q .n besummarized iU rullows:

DcfidencyExecs.,

St;•gnatiOtl

u t : ~ r i

R .

Rd. El. C. 8Rd. E. M. C, 8Rd (for ~ s u l i l r i y with Ex«'Ss)

E (for lr rcgularity with Ddicicncy).

Methods arr sho"'" in tnore detail in T.1blr 6 4.

OTHER IMBALANCES

WIND, HEAT. DRYNESS. COLD AND DAMP

fkasides the four imbalances of QJ , there arc the hnbal·anccs associated with Wind, Heat, Dryness, Cold and

Damp. each of whid l an be h ~ r Exterior or Interior.

• Wind rcpr('S('nts mo\'emmt and chansc and li Yang.

E"'tl'rior Wind results in .1cutc ExC'CS$ in the u r f ~ ol the

body. Interior Wind is lm..ogulari1y \ ~ h k h an b • .wod ·

ated \\ith Ex=s. e.g. U•-er Fi"'· or D<fldtncy. o.g.Def1Cient U\•tr Blood.

• lie a t i.' Y1ng dnd incn:ases ~ e n t and is thereforemore likely to be .1ssodated i th lrn.--gularity than S t a g ~nation. ~ He.1t C.ln be associated with St.tgnation

as in Uver-Gallbl.ldder D.m1p Heat, or wh\'n the Heat is

o : ~ s . s o d . , t t . - d with R ~ : h m t o n of Phlegm in 1he Lun gt. 14c a tc.:m be assodJtc.-d with either Deficiency or Exo.."Ss.

• Drym.SS m11y originate from Excess Heal p.ntf."mS or beassociated \\i.th Ocfident BJood or Dcficicnl Yin. II is itwlf

a Deficiency p.11h.·m representirlg " lbek or nuids.

• Cold 11 Yin .1nd m ~ y ori.giMte from E;\terior Eu<SS of

Cold or (rom lntt"rior Dc6cient YMg. ln itsclf. 1t slo\." $

m o v c m ~ t and tends to c-ause Stagnation of Oi and Blood.

• Damp i§ Ym, whcth('r it originates from E x t ~ r i o r Excii.'Ss

of O.tmp ur lnlcrior Od idc-nt Spleen and Kidneys. 0Jmp

is h t>avy i'lnd lingering and is < . l S . ~ o d a . il with Slagu a llos l .

PRI II:C II'I.F.S OF TREAThiENT

• Exterior Wind is ~ p c i ' S C ' d and lntc:rior Wind is c.Jimed.In t d d i t t o n i the origin of Interior Wind l i &CC 'S.) . this is~ o( D<fooency. thi> i3 tonificd.

• htt:rior Hc.•,ut or n t ~ r i o r E;'(ccss I c ~ t are l s ~ r s . : d . and

for 1hterior t t i d ~ n c y HeJt, th Ht'.lt d dtsptorst'\1 and

Yin iJ tonified.



• For Exl<.'rior i n d Dryness, the \\1ind is dispersed ;md if

n('c(_SSary1 Yin is toni6ed.

• For Interior D r y n e ~ . tonify Yin.

• Exterio r Cold, Excess Cold . u ~ dispersed, ;md for

fnterior Deficiency Cold, the Co ld is dispersed and the

DeficiC'nt Yang is tonificd.

• Exterior or Interior Damp mus t dispeJs.t.--d Jnd the

asK'IC'iated Stagnation moved, and i f tlw Interior Damp is

based on Dcf'lcicmdC's of SpleC'n and n e ~ • s these must

be tonificd.

COMIJINATIONS OF THE FOUR MAIN

IMBALANCES

There :ue six combin:Hions of the four main imbJlrmccs .lS

shown in Figure 6.3:

PR JNCJPJ.r:S OF TREATMENT

Which principle of trcJtmcnt is emphJsizcd. will dC'pcndon \\'hkh of the two imbaldnt'.es in a combination is

dominant at a particular time. For exampl , for the

cumbination of Exc<.'Ss ;md Dcfici< ncy. it is not possiblefor full Exces5 and fu ll Deficiency to exist in the :H1mc

organ at the same i m ~ . H w ~ v e it iscommcm fo r Excessto domin.1tc in the acute phase during an attack, whilstDefickncy dominalt-s in the chronic phase bctwt..-cnattacks. 1or example, during the ;u:utc phast> of violent

hcada,hc, disperse the Exct::s-s Liver l;irc; Jnd during

dm.,nic phdst:, tonify the Ddicicnt Liver Yin on which the

temporary E x e c s . ~ is. b.ucd.

/ lrro51ularity

Irregularity lrtegularitv• Excen ... Deficiency

' •g ul.,;ry \• Stagnation

\ - ~SlaQnMion Stagnation

.,. Excess • Ooficioncy

- . . _ Sll. . , . tlon __..-/

I XCFSS, i ANI IRRECULARl rY 45

As another ~ x a m fo r a <Xlmbina tion of Ddicient

Lung Qi with StJgn<lnt Lu.ng Qi, it is possible to us.c somepoints with Even or Rl.'<lucins method to tnO\'C lhl'

S1ag.nant Lung Qi. e.g. CV. 17. BL.13. whilst :.t the same

time reinforcing other poin ts to tonify th<> l uns Dd'i·

dency. •·S· LU.9 and ST.36.

CLA SSIFICATION OF THE ORGAN

SYNDROMES

The organ syndromes can bt> classi fied into the 10 catego-ries of Ddidcncy. E."ccss, StJgn.1tion \lnd lm•gularity and

lheir sixcombinJtions as sh o\' ' in a b } ~ 6.3.lt can be seen

from 1he table that the Kidne)S tend to Oefidency and fr

regulari:y ;md not so much to Excess. T h ~ liver and the

H ~ J r t are espt."Cially prone to patterns of Irregularity.due tothe disturbance .lssodated with Heart Firl ', Liver Fire, Hy-pcrJctivc Uvcr YJng. or Uvcr Wind rising up t.he body,

causing Disturbance of He.ut Spirit.

SUMMARY OF THE TEN lMBALANCES

The four b01sic imbabnces and their sh: combination...; are

summ;uized in T.1blc 6.4.

CLA SSlf iCATION OF POfNT TYPES

Acupuncture as a th€'rapy has a self-n.1)u lating effL < t on

the body, so for a ny acupuncture point . the insertion of ant>t'<Ut..• will tt·nd to tonify if thc:re is Deficiency. disperse if

h e r ~ is Ex<.-ess, m t W ~ i h e n ~ is Stagnation, or calm Uthere is Irregularity. However, some point types tend tohave more specific eff&ts. For example, Source points aremost used to tonify ;md AcaJmulJtion points are mostuSL <i to disperse Jnd n1ovc . Table 6.5 summarizcs the

main uses of edch point type.·r.1ble 6.6 takes the Conception channel as an example

to show how the different poin iS on 01 chan.nel can beused in different W J ~ · s .

APPUCATIONS OF THE CONCEPT O f

THE FOUR IMBALANCES

Th e .:on1..--ept of che four nlain Qi imbalances, De(kienq•.Ex·ccss. Stagnacion and lrrcgu lo1rit y, is most useful inunderstanding the origins of d iseases. It is helpful i.n

understanding the dinical applic-aUon.s t l the five Element t h ~ : ~ r y (Chapter 9). and it is essential in extendingthe r.J.ngc of usc of the ExtTl ch.m.ncls (Chilptcr 10). Jt ca_n

illuminate an undcr.;tanding of the treatm ent of p$)'c.".hO·

Jogital d i5:0rderS, sin«- the mind and emotions can be

seen JS Qi·flow phenomena .

Copyrghled m Je



46 THEORETIC.\ . PRINCU>U:S Of' POINT COMBINATION

T . b l ~ 6..3 Cl.u&i.fi<'Olltion ulthe ~ y n d r u m t . ' )

l mb. .ancc Lunp Kidneys Un r ur t S p J n n S i o c n « hr > e f l ~ O.f.LU Ql Dw f.KI jtng Ol'l.LR Blood O. f.HT Qi o.r.sr-sr Qi

Od.LU )'in Vd.KI Qi D<f.U<•GB Qi DcUIT mood Ocf.ST YinDc:f.LU Yn.ng Dt .KI Yin Ot-f.HT m Ocf.SP YAng

Orf.KI Y.-ng: [)(ofJ.IT Y ~ n gEXC'e$1 LU Firt> l.R-CB Fitt' HTflre ST fh<o

St<lgtldtklt\ SLLU Qt StKI Ql St.LR Qt St.HT Ql 5< .51'-STQlSt.LR BttW St.liT Blood

Inq;uLI ity R<b.UJ Qi K'l 1.. Ar i n v : ~ d • ~ HT fi)'P·I.R Y11ng Dbt. of • ..., 5T Qi

LR Wind UT Spirit Rcl>.SI' Qi

D E > f l c i c n ~ : r ~ A ~ u u \1.n V;ing ~ f . L R \ 'i.n Df.tHT Yift O d.SP l tu'8• E - x t . ~ + lU + O.amp + LR Fire .,. HT Fire • D.tmp

lrrt"gul• rity Reb.t.U Q; "' LR Wind • ()jst. of H l Rt b.ST Qi

. ~ h m t i o n of PhlcgD' ln : LR Fue Spirit • 1-rT Flh' + ST Rh'

lnq; ul.t ri ty R.b.LU Qi fear ditturb$ l-IT Hyf> r Y.mg OUt. oil-IT R<b.5T Qi• Drbonc)· ._ lk l.LU Qi • r>eua QJ • - .LR Blood Spi rit • Od,HTQi tDd'SfQi

ll'f\?'Su larl ty Rt>b.LU Qi H)'p. I..R Yang l>ist. n Ht R ~ o ~ . S T Qi"' SLISJI.Uion • St. l.U Qi ·t )t.I..R Ql Spirll + St.HT Qi • St.ST Ql

St•gnatlon. Rfk'ntion of Phk•gm in LU LR-C8 txunp HC'.t: Phlegm Cold [n HT Damp H e o ~ t In SP

St•putiun St.Qi • St.KI Qi • St.LR Qi • SLiiT Blood St.SP-ST Qi •0 . . ~ - n c r O..f,LU Qi Dr.f.KI Qi Ocl.LR Yo1ns • Dcl .HT Y ~ n g D<f.SP·ST Qi

Ot"f • [ k ( K " I e n ~ ) Sc_ S t . l g n < ~ t i o n Reb . R£-bellious: Hyp . Hypt-ractio .-e: Dlst., O b h u b . t n c ~

T U Sumnury (If the 1M lmbal.uw'eS

m ~ frindplt t,.,.. Mtchod of Enm:plt Eu mple Point combiru lion

trutmtnl t m n t tyndromt Aillntnl

~ Y tonify ~ m p t ) Rf M OM. Kl Qi imp:ltt'nno CV .4, CV,20, HL23,ST.36 Kf M

F.xn'tl:t i ~ full Rd. EJ. C. B LR Fire . 1 ~ G\'.20, KJ.l. LR.J Rd;I.R.lB

rc.9.

S t . l g J U ~ ~ n mo '" "'-iry Rd, E. El. M. C. 8 5<. I.R Qi d. . . . . . . CV.6 EM; CV.Ii', PC.6.lR.J Rd

lrft'gul.tnty t".t m int'1_tUI.tr Rd, E Rri-1. Ql nat15('.a CV.H , f'C,6, ST.J6 F.

'tonify • empty or Ri, M Oe1. LR Yin <oniunctlvitb s r.6, u u Rf

• F.x""" d ~ ~ fuU Rd. EJ. C, B • LR Fife G8.1 GO.JS Rd; LR.IB

lm S"l.lrir)' olm ., irK'S'll.lT Rd, F. of tn Spirit nuni.1 .md CV .U, IIT.7, SP.6 E Rd... E . ~ « ' ' ~ d.,..,. to full Rd. FJ. C, 8 • HT Fiw anxletr HT.8, KU Rd

r t g u ~ r i c.tm • rre,;ubr Rd. E ~ ~ ~ , d ~ t u 1 b s Hr fear ;ind CV .H, f'(; 6, HT.7 Rd• Otfidmcy tonify • empt) R(, M • ()rl.KJ Q; .lppl'l'ht"nsion CV .4, KI.J, ST. l6 R M

a ~ ; J U t i o n ID0\'1.' t w ry • Rd. E. fl. M. C. B Rl'tCTitKm t Phlq;m <hronic CV.I7, LU.I, LU.6 Rd; 81..13.E . ~ s d i ~ J X ' r s o . full Rd. 8 Cold in LU bronchili• S VoORd M

lmgul.trit)' <:aim ,. in-eg:uJM Rd. E Hrp. LR Y11ng ptt'l'nen.Sirual C\'.20. C8.20E

'l' S t . ' l g n . . ~ i O t \ 1- wi ry Rd. f. FJ, M, C, 8 • Sc. LR Qi S)'ndtome- LK.2, I..R.l4, SP.6 Rd

S t a ~ r i o n 0\(1\'(- .. wiry • Rd. E. D. M, C. 8 St . J-IT 6Jooc.l •ngin11 p«tori5 CV.I7, SP.4 Rd M; SP.21,... Dcfkienc:y tcni fy « mpty Rf. M Od. HT Yang PC.6 Rd

cv •. s·r.l6 Rf M

PuN r w n ~ l'f'fn h) dw pulse sroup. se. p. oot tht> indl\ idual qu,iJ ty.Pd .. ~ l ' i c i t ' : n t y .... S ~ g n • l i l ' l n ; RA:ob .. W b d t i o ~ llyp • II YJ"-'I'•<tive; D41t .. Di.-.turb..ula:.Rf . Rcinf<m:ing.: Rd,. Rrducing; E. E\t'n; M, mo . B. bktding; £l. c l e c t n u c u p u ~ C. roppi.ng.

Cvpyrghlcd m lcr



Poial trr- Point UM

Od d<ft<)' Eu . . Slllf'.tllo•

Sou. . . X

Connc'<'llng XAtcuMul.1lk11\ X

At.nn • X XWd l 1 X •8.ac): Tr•ra;ponlns X ' •~ Elftwnt ' \

' ' X

Wmdow ol ltu\'l'n X

X. ptml t ) UH ; JC Sft<'Onlllry \H

T ~ l • 6.6 CLaililboon of Conreption t , h ; , n r ~ t l point•

rolnlIYJMI

CV . t

CV .

CV.I 7

cv.ucv.nC\',6

cv••C\ )

Otfidtney

1

•X

•X

Point uu

Excu• SlAgtl .tllon

' X

X X

1 X

' •X X

X

X X

IIHp.l.Uity

X

X

'\

''

lrrqularity

X

X

1

X

X

X

CV.4 C'4n b e ~ for r r ~ l \ n t y o n l y \ \ ~ thlt Jt NW'\1on Oi>fkwncy,tJnce CV.4 con toniC)' the undetlyln& Dftldtnty.

X.. prlln try u_,.; x. M roncL.ry wco.

WICII SCY. FXCESS, STAC'IA110 1 . .m> lllRf.CULARITY i

ACUPUNCTURE AND EKERCY 1\'0RK

The a > S i f i C > ~ I o n of 1he Four Imbalances sp«ifir.lly

designed by ihc author 0\S .t system of dlff<>rt'nti.ltion to

integrate i\cupuncture. energy work and ml'<liliHion. The

same principle or n-eatment applies in (>il(h r.uc.For cxomplc, (or a patient where lrrc.ogulr.rity of

ment in the ht:-ad is associ.a ted with sn6dt.•ncy the

Kidneys. the principle of treatment in e.lCh o thi" lhrre

thcrapit"S is to tonify the 0.:6ciency .md to c.J tm the

lrrq;uJ•rit)'. Acupuncture treatmenl con do lhls lth

CV.4, Kl.l, ST.36 Rf; CV.20.Kl.l Rd. The p<><buoner a n

lh<n <nh<Jn«' lhe effl'<'l of lhe .>CUpunelun> by using

en"'J Y 1\ Ofk (Qi Gong} firstly IO st....,gthm lhe Dan Tian

centn•, and then to sink energy down in the body to

relieve I ~ R g u l a r i t y in the head. Tile p.lliml cJn then begi ven spt.ICiRc meditation e : e r c i ~ whk h s trengthen Kid·

ncy cnC rg)' .1nd b . t ~ l a n c e lht' distribution o ~ n c r g y m the

bOOy.

Cpy111



ow to make effective

combinations

TREATING CAUSE AND EFFECT

Hlnesses tend to have one or more u.nderlying cause, S.m l.lnd one or more external

ma nifes tatitln, Bi:.o. For example, a common cold may have underly ing Deficiency ofQi, n, with ouhvi)rd signs of f xt(' rior \\' ind, Biao, c.s. s n ~ z i n and chills. The

underlying Deficiency of Qi, the cause, l.lllows the lnv4sion of Exterior Wind, the effect.T h ~ question In forming a point combination ls when to tr('at the c-Jusc and whtm

to treat the ~ f £ c c t There are various possibilities:

treat effect onlytreat c3usc onlytr eat CllUSl' thcn effect

t r ~ a cJfect then causetreat cause and ~ f f e c t Simultaneously.

TRE T EFFECT ONLY

This is usually only done when the i'ff'cct is Exterior nu is dominant to the cJ usc. Fo rex:amph:.•, when there is Wind Cold in\'asion with only mild underlying Deficiency of

Qi so that this Deficiency will be corrected by the body itsel f. \\ i thout further

treatment, once the Exterior Wind Cold has been expelled. with lU. • Ll.4 Rd.

Th is is rare in th e clinical experience of the author. since most of his patient s h,we had

chronic underlying Defkiendes which needed tonifying. after tht> Exterior factor w.1sn ~ o v c d

both rouse and elf el arc Interior it is more common to tre<tt them succt:t'$ivcly or

si rnultaneously. rather than treat the effect only. For e)tample, i f there is inson·ulia f-romDcfidMt Heart Yin, an micin for insomnia can used at lh e s.lm(' ti.me as HT.3 forDeficient Heart Yin.

TRE T C USE ONLY

This is not used for Exterior conditions. since the Exterior factor must be expcl1<-d first.

t may be enough In some internal problems to treat th e root only. For example.

CV.4, ST.36, Kl.3 Rf M for an underlying condition of De6cicnt Kidney Y ~ n g mayrelieve the symptoms of tiredness and impotence. HO\\'Cvcr, addltion.tl point:; arc

49

7

Copyrghled m ler



50 'rHf.ORF.11CJ\L C P U . S OF f'OINf ~ 8 1 N A n O N

often needed to tnMt symptoms, CSP\'cially i these arc

local. e.g . C"old hand s : md ( ~ t . SP.2 .1nd PC.S Rf M canthen <"tddcd to points or the c a u ~ .

T E A T C AUSE TH EN EFFEG

Tltis is r.m: in Ex ti.•rior conditions, n . : ~ the: Ext<:rior f a ~ : t ois usually c-x}X'JI('\J tlrst lt .1lso uncommon ln lllleriorcondl :ions. since :he Interior ,,nd lntc.•rior effect Meoften t r ~ . , t c d togclhc1.

H EM EFFECr TH EN CAUSE

This is ver)1 common for illnes ies when there is a chron ic

l merior c-c.mdition, with ()Ctasional more seven.• ag.sr<W.'i·

tions, ;and also for illm '$SC'S where the effect i P SO ll rl)Cn t

it must be d('alt wilh hllllledi.Jtdy .

Ch ronic Interior plus acute Exterior

For t>xamplc. a chronic Interior condiHon of Deficient Qi.with tiredn('SS, Ot.:ty ,lllow ~ r i o d i c Exterior irw.l5ion by

Wind Cold. w ith intlucnu . During the .tcute ph.JSC. theinflul'M:a. the C t fcrt is treated by expelling h(' Wind Cold;

during thc <hronil.' phase, th(' ,,,use is treated tonifyingthe QL

chronic phase acute phase

(between attacks) (durins ntt<"te:ks)e.g, Odkicn Kidney ,md e.g. Wind Cold invasionLungs \\ Hh tired ness and with n f l ut"("duccd resistM'ICC to inf«tionCV.4, CV. 7. LU.9. Kl.3. CV.H, LU.i, Ll.4 RdST.36 Rf

Chronic lnterior plu) acute Interior

For <'X.,mplc, Dcfldcncy of Sple-t•n Qi m.1y result in t . ~Spleen not holding the blood. \\'ith severe haemorrhage.The acuh': eficrt must e trc.Hed fi rst, for ('xamplc. with

points such.1s

S P.J and SP. IO Rf M. Once th e bk>edingh..,s stopped, the O e f i d c ~ · of Qi that c.-. used it, and th .:

De ftcit:-ncy of Olood l'\'Sulting from it, can be redted withpoints such •s BL.17. BL.20, BL.H R( M.

TREAT CAUSE AND Hr E G U L T A N E O U S Y

'fhis is not used for Exterior problems, since the Ex terior

fJclor must cxpl•llcd first. It is. howcvt.'r, he c o m mL- 5.1 method of lre.lting Interior problems. For example, a

headache assodat('d with Hyperactive Uver Yang may

h.we an underlying c-ause of Ocfident Kidn ey Qi. C V.4

•nd K1.3 JU M for tho Deficient Kidn ov c•n bo usedsimultanoously with CB .34 and CB .20 Rl for th< Hyper·acti\'e Jver Yang.

t l MATTER O EMPHASIS

Of ('n, between JliJcks. J o m b i n ~ l t i o n is selected thO:t is

C i o m i n a m for treating the but with a few

points to treat the f f o c t . For example, for headaches after

mcnstruo1.tion due to Dchcicnt Blood, bctwc-cn att.,cks, thecombination could be;

Bl.l i , BL.20, BL.23, BL.43 Rl M; GV.20 E

In this combination most points ..uc for Dd lclcnt Blood.but thC CV.20 is added to hannoniz€ the movement of Qiin the head. During attacks. th e combin.1tion could lw:

CV.20. CB .20. yin tang. U.4 E; 51.36 Rf M

l l ~ n : the mnjority of points arc for the> acute dfect, butST.36 is 10 ltN t th(' und<.•tlying Cdti.S('.

The relati\'e number of points inch1ded h.l trea t cause

and to treat cHcct, wi ll depend on the- r c l a t i \ ~ dominance

o l'.lusc tt ld cl(C(,t at Jn y gi\'Cn time .

GENERAL GUIDELINES

This s t>< Lon n a discussion of:

Ah Shi, local, ad jacent and diStal points

cha ins of pointssingle points

encircling an "rrapoints on Yin and " ·' S channelscombining .tccording to the Six Divi ions

points on front .'\lld b.1ck

point .1nd en ergy centres

points olboVL ilnd below

points right and leftcommon ((mnulas.

AH S lil, LOCAL. AO)ACF.NT AND DISTAl. POI NTS

This system is especially useful for local problems and

'hannt>l problt'ms. Tite prindpJe is to us(• Ah Shi points.

adjace-nt ~ and local and distat point$ on the affectedd1o1.nnd.

Ah Shi points

These are point s in the affl 'Ctcd area, wh ic:h arc pa inful on

Copyrghlcd m fer



Documents

Acupuncture Point Combinations