Extra points are the acupuncture points, mostly not located on the meridians, also known as non-meridian points. Most acupoints have proximal, distal and bi-directional* therapeutic effects, and some points have distinctive therapeutic effects.

These acupoints have specific therapeutic effects and the effects are relatively simple. For example, taiyang (EX-HN5) is mainly used to treat headache, and yaotongdian (EXUE7) is chiefly used to treat lumbar pain. Most importantly, they are very effective and frequently used. Some extra points are the meridian acupoints. For example, the lateral xiyan acupoint (EX-LE5) is also actually dubi (ST35) acupoint, some of bafeng acupoints (EX-LE10) are brook points* of foot meridians. Some extra points are in fact formed by several meridian points. Therefore, extra in this context means extra effects. Following are the abbreviations* used for naming extra points.

Ouch point is an acupuncture point with neither a specific name nor definite location, the site of which is determined by tenderness or other pathological response. A disease of an internal organ can be reflected onto a surface area, the ouch point; then needling this point can treat the disease.

All acupoints have proximal therapeutic effect. They can be needled to treat disorders of tissues and organs around them, especially the acupoints located on the head, face and trunk.

Distal therapeutic effect is mostly the feature of the acupoints on the fourteen meridians, especially the acupoints below the knees and elbows of the twelve regular meridians. These acupoints can not only be needled to treat disorders of the local region, but also be applied to treating disorders of the viscera and bowels. Some of the meridian acupoints can even be used to treat disorders of the whole body. A meridian acupoint can usually be selected to treat diseases of the tissues and organs as far as the meridian of the acupoint can reach. For example, zusanli acupoint (ST36) can be selected to treat flaccidity* and pain of the lower limbs (proximal therapeutic effect), and it also can be chosen to treat disorders of the spleen and stomach (distal therapeutic effect), due to the fact that ST36 acupoint is on the stomach meridian which travels to the spleen and stomach.

Acupuncture has bi-directional effect, it normalizes the functions of viscera and bowels. Acupuncture lowers the blood pressure for patients with hypertension* and elevates it for patients with hypotension*. Acupuncture increases gastric secretion* in patients with hypoacidity*, and decreases it in patients with hyperacidity. It normalizes intestinal motility* in patients with either spastic colitis* or intestinal hypotonia*.* Needling neiguan (PC6) can make the heart beat slowly for a patient with tachycardia*; while needling the same acupoint PC6 can increase the heart beat rate for a patient with bradycardia*.

Therefore, acupuncture itself seldom makes a condition worse. Since its therapeutic actions are achieved by mobilization of the organism's own potential, acupuncture does not produce adverse effects*, as do many herbal therapies.

Distinctive effect means that some of the acupoints bear distinctive therapeutic effects on certain disease. For example, dazhui (GV14) has an antipyretic* effect (relieving or reducing fever) and zhiyin point (BL67) can correct an abnormal position of a fetus.