Course: Point Location I

Class #: 1

Date:

9/28/07

Dr. Shen
Seek first to understand.
Syllabus overview
1st of 3 point loc classes. Some theory, some practical. Thus attendance is counted that way.
Course contents
First 3 wks are theory. Covers location of channels/collaterals, how many there are, what
they do, differences, categories of points. I.d. body landmarks, know point loc methods
and be able to do it (practicum).
Subsequent weeks: lecture, practical application. LU, LI, St, SP. About a week per
channel, except Stomach. Might do Heart channel if we have time at the end of this
course, if not, then next term.
Use round sticky dots to locate points.
Group study strongly recommended!
Class is important for national exams and licensure, state and NCCAOM (different requirements)
Examinations.
3 attempts for each module in Texas. AOMA students tend to outperform national average
foundations
acupuncture ( is theory, practical/point loc400 points, but only 20 questions and
can only get 6 or less wrong)
herbology
biomedicine
jurisprudence
Reason ppl do poorly: in program too long and stale knowledge, poor absorption, didnt pay
attention or take point loc seriously. Dont take the exam right away. (Go to NCCAOMs website
to get requirements as to when you can take them. Most are computerized and you can take them
any time.)
ACOAM
CCOAM
NCCAOM
Exams get progressively harder as course progresses. Wide coverage per exam.
Key: pay attention in class, read the assignments, study as we go along, practice. Study groups
recommended.
Texts:
Only need one of the 2but I have both.
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 Chinese Acu and Mox.

More concise, precise. Not too much info, just the stuff you really need to know.
Wider coverate: foundation of TCM, but thinner info about pt loc and energetics
than next book. Needle techniques, insertion, methods, formulation and treatment
of acupuncture. Very important for national acumuch of national exam relys on
this. Great for national boards! This is the definitive for standards. If there is a
difference between this and Deadman, use this one. More acurate, precise (per
Shen). Concise, condensed, makes more sense when you have learned it.
Manual of Acupuncture.
o Excellent for energetics, meridians, theory. Newer version available, but
no new info. Changes are listed on websiteuse that for reference. Most
qs for national boards written from this anyhow. (NCCAOM probably
wont change them because each question change costs them abt $1000!
per Shen who is on the board.)
o This is better for learning: written by English speaking authors (CAM
written in chinese, translated), well illustrated and informative re points.
Also, organized according to areas which is nice. Very helpful. (See back
of book for all pts located on stomach, on back, on leg, etc.)
o Energetics is a little confusing. Lots of info, but so much per point!. Pulled
info from a lot of different sources, tossed together. Hard to tell what is
more important, valid.
o Deadman index cards have very concise information for the points.
Theres also a CD (which I have).
Recommended Texts
Clinically Oriented Anatomy book for surface anatomy is recommended. Surface
anatomy is much more important than internal anatomy for point location.
Anatomy and Physiology from A&P Course. CD-ROMs are recommended.
(Library, too)
Acupuncture A Comprehensive Text recommended for way it organizes points
and more. Most books do it by channel. This one organizes by anatomical areas.
Can compare the location. Better for use after you learn the points.
Grasping the Wind. This about the Chinese names of the acu points. This is not
required in any course, nor by national boards. But really handy for
understanding, cultural background for points.
Images and Functions. This about the Chinese names of the acu points. This is not
required in any course, nor by national boards. But really handy for
understanding, cultural background for points.
(The school in Seattle requires this, but thats about the only onethey focus on
Chinese med, Chinese language, TCM Classics. Interesting!)
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One homework required: very easy, but required. 10th week, review all points, come up with 25
points in order to quiz each other.

Grading:
3 tests. 2 regular, one final. Wont get a grade, but # of points. Each counts to 100 points
making up final grade. 1st exam: 25 points. 2nd exam: 30. Final: 45. Add em up and you
have 100. Shen may adjust these numbers. So basically, youre building up points for the
final grade all the time, kind of like a video game.
First exam: beginning of class 5. written only.
Goes up to the Lung channel, so no questions on Lung points on that test.
Second exam: beginning of class 9. written only.
Final: written plus practical with dots.
Cumulative.
Attendance:
Be here. 1 absence free, 2nd one will cost you a full grade letter off the final grade. 3rd one
costs you 2 full letter grades. That would be bad. Youll probably fail.
Cant make up a classyou could come to the other section but you wont get credit for
it. No excuses. Still, would be good for your own understanding.
3 tardies or early departures = 1 absence. Gone more than an hour? Thats an absence.

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Channels and Collaterals

Aka, Meridians.
Channels are the carriers for qi/blood.
Jing Luo. One word, but 2 characters.
Jing = channels. Geographical connotations: like water channel or pathway. Bigger branches,
like large rivers. Run at a relatively deep level, cnx w/zangfu
4 characteristics:
1. main trunks
2. usually run longitudally
3. usually go very deep inside body.
4. will connect to interior organs.
Luo = to attach or net. Collaterals. Interlock the channels. Smaller tributaries, like creeks.
Run more superficially. This is what you use for acupuncture.
4 characteristics:
1. branches
2. run transversely, i.e., to all other directions not just longitudinally
3. more superficial.
4. do not directly connect to interior organs.
This is a whole network system. Goes top to bottom, bottom to top, interior to exterior, exterior
to interior. Considered to be intangible, independent from nerve and blood systems of western
medicine. We arent stimulating the nerves or puncturing blood vessels with acupuncture. Carries
vital substances and energy over the body: qi, blood, yin, yang, vital substances, essence. These
arent just lines, but pathways full of stuff.
Connects different pts of body all together. By that same token, can transport pathogens around
as well.
Made up of different categories of channels. More clinically important than collaterals.
3 subcats of channels
12 regular channels
most of this class spent here.
o 6 yang channels
Yang channels are connected to yang (fu) organ
Located primarily in a yang area of the body
(Exception: stomach channel)
3 hand yang channels
(hand channels end or begins at a finger and most of the channel runs on
the upper limb)
3 foot yang channels
(foot channels end or begin at a toe and most of channel runs on lower
limb)

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o 6 yin channels
Yin channels are connected to yin (zang) organ
Located primarily in a yin area of the body.
3 hand yin channels
(hand channels end or begins at a finger and most of the channel runs on
the upper limb)
3 foot yin channels
(foot channels end or begin at a toe and most of channel runs on lower
limb)
8 extra channels
Miscellaneous channels
Collaterals.
15 collaterals
Sub collaterals
Superficial collaterals
Yin and Yang are the 2 basic elements that make up everything. In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. And darkness moved upon the face of the deep. And then God creates light. In
computer terms there is ultimately on and off and no more. There is no Yin without Yang.
Yin and Yang are comparative. Items to compare should be related so there IS a comparison.

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