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There are ten types of specific points in total, as listed in Fig. 13-3.

Fig. 13-3 The ten types of specific points

Five Transport Points
五腧穴

There are five transport points on each of the twelve meridians located distal to the elbows and knees, namely the well points, brook points, stream points, river points and sea points. Each of the twelve meridians has a set of the five transport points. Ancient people gave these names to these points because they viewed the flow of meridian qi as the water flow of the nature. Stimulating these points can activate the qi inside the meridians and regulate the corresponding organs.

Well points* are located at the distal end of the fingers or toes, where the meridian qi starts to bubble. Brook points* are mostly located distal to the metacarpophalangeal* or metatarsophalangeal* joints, where the meridian qi starts to spout*. Stream points* are mostly located proximal to the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joints, where the meridian qi starts to flourish. River points* are located on the lower limbs and forearms, where meridian qi flows broadly. And sea points* are mostly located near the elbows or knees, where the meridian qi goes deep into the body just as a river flows into the sea.

Source Points
原穴

Source points are the points where the original qi of the visceral organs pours, passes or stays. They are mostly located around the wrists and ankles and there are a total of twelve Therefore, they are also called twelve source points. The source points of yin meridians share the same location of stream points of five transport points of the same meridians. For example, taichong point of the liver meridian (LR3) is not only a source point but also a stream point of the liver meridian. Source points can be used to treat the corresponding viscera and bowels.

Connecting Points
络穴

Connecting points are located at the site where the meridian sends out its collateral vessel; therefore, there are fifteen in all. They are the points where the fifteen collaterals stem from the twelve meridians, and the governor and conception vessels.

Connecting points set up connections between exterior-interior paired meridians. Each of these connecting points can be applied to treating the diseases of two paired organs. For example, lieque (LU7) is an acupoint of the lung meridian and also the connecting point of the lung to the large intestine; therefore, it can be used to treat cough and dyspnea of a lung disorder, and can also be used to treat toothache and stiff neck of a large intestine disorder.

Cleft Points
郄穴

Cleft point is the point where meridian qi accumulates deeply. Each of the twelve meridians has one cleft point, yin heel vessel has one, yang heel vessel has one, yin link vessel has one, and yang link vessel has one, sixteen in total. All the cleft acupoints are located below the knees and elbows, except for liangqiu (ST34), which is on the stomach meridian above the knee joint. In cases there are reactions at these points, it indicates that pathogens are deep inside the body and the conditions of the disease may be serious. Therefore, these points are often needled for severe conditions of the associated organs.

Confluence Points of the Eight Vessels
八脉交会穴

Confluence points of the eight vessels are the points where the main meridians communicate with the eight extra meridians. These eight acupoints are located above or below the knee and elbow joints. Since the extra meridians meet the regular meridians at definite acupoints, acupuncture and moxibustion on these acupoints can regulate the functions of the eight extra meridians. For example, needling acupoint gongsun (SP4) can regulate the function of the thoroughfare vessel.

Lower Sea Points of the Six Bowels
六腑下合穴

Lower sea points of the six bowels are the specific points on the three yang meridians of the foot corresponding to the six bowels. The lower sea points of the three foot yang meridians are located on their meridians. The lower sea points of the three hand yang meridians are not located on their meridians but at the lower limbs. The lower sea points of the large intestine and small intestine meridians are on the stomach meridian, and the lower sea point of triple energizer meridian is located on the bladder meridian. These six points are the places where qi from the six bowels (the six yang organs) travels to and gathers. Therefore, they are the major points for diseases of the six bowels.

Transport Points and Alarm Points
背腧穴和腹募穴

Transport points are the specific points on the patient's back where the qi of the visceral organs is infused*. Each of these points is from one of the twelve meridians, or from the viscera and bowels and there are twelve in total. They are located along the first lateral line of the bladder meridian, which is 1.5 cun lateral to the back middle line. The distribution order is similar to that of the location of the viscera, and needling these points can regulate the functions of their corresponding organs. For example, needling feishu (BL13), the transport point of the lung, can treat lung diseases.

Alarm points are the specific points on the chest or abdomen where the qi of the respective viscera and bowels is concentrated. Their location is adjacent to that of the related viscera and bowels. Among these acupoints, six are on the conception vessel, and the rest are bilateral acupoints. Similar to transport points, needling alarm points can regulate the functions of their corresponding organs. For example, tianshu (ST25) is the alarm point of the large intestine; therefore, it can be selected to treat large intestine diseases.

Eight Meeting Points and Crossing Points
八会穴和交会穴

Eight meeting points are the eight important points where the qi of viscus, bowel, qi, blood, tendon, vessel, bone and marrow gathers respectively. They are located on the trunk and four limbs. These points are closely associated with the functions of the corresponding organs and tissues, and thus are often used to treat relevant conditions.

Crossing point is the point where two or more meridians intersect, and they are mostly located on the head, face and trunk. For example, sanyinjiao (SP6) is one of the spleen meridian points; however, kidney and liver meridians also pass across it. Therefore, it can be selected for treating diseases of these three meridians.