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Module 7   Lesson 4   Zuo You

Point combinations 2: left and right, Yin and Yang, front and back

When does an acupuncturist choose the side opposite the complaint, and why combine a point on the front with a point on the back of the same organ?

After this lesson you can choose with reasons between both sides, the same side and the opposite side; combine a Yin channel with a Yang channel, also as Yuan and Luo; combine Front-Mu and Back-Shu with the reason from Nan Jing 67; and test a set against five balances.

Left and right complaint opposite side internal pattern: both sides channel: same side, or opposite side (Su Wen 63) Yin and Yang Yin channel Yang channel Yuan Luo paired: interior and exterior Yuan of the channel ill first, Luo of the partner (textbook) Front and back front: Front-Mu, Yin organ back: Back-Shu, Yang Nan Jing 67: Yin diseases move to Yang, Yang diseases to Yin; CV-12 with BL-21: the Stomach
Schematic, not a location guide. Su Wen 63 and Nan Jing 67 are classical; the Yuan-Luo combination is textbook knowledge (ch. 51 p. 848). The arrows on the right show the movement from Nan Jing 67.

Know by heart

  • Left and right. Internal patterns usually on both sides; channel complaints on the affected side, or precisely on the opposite side (textbook knowledge).
  • Opposite side, Su Wen 63. Taking the left for the right and the right for the left: ju ci 巨刺 for the main channel, miu ci 缪刺 for the Luo vessels. Su Wen 5: whoever needles well treats the left via the right and the right via the left.
  • Yin and Yang. The paired channel, interior and exterior: LR-3 with GB-34, LU-7 with LI-4. Su Wen 5: draw Yang from Yin and Yin from Yang.
  • Yuan and Luo, host and guest (textbook knowledge). The Yuan point of the channel that fell ill first, with the Luo point of its partner: SP-3 with ST-40 when the Spleen comes first. mnemonic: the host gives its source, the guest brings the bridge.
  • Front and back. Front-Mu (front, Yin) with Back-Shu (back, Yang) of the same organ: CV-12 with BL-21 (Stomach), LR-14 with BL-18 (Liver), LR-13 with BL-20 (Spleen). Nan Jing 67: Yin diseases move to the Yang, Yang diseases to the Yin.
  • A tendency, not a rule (textbook knowledge). Back-Shu in chronic Deficiency and the Zang; Front-Mu in acute Excess and the Fu. Tenderness on either helps the diagnosis.
  • Five balances. Distal and local, above and below, left and right, Yin and Yang, front and back. mnemonic: never build a set BADLY: Back-front, Above-below, Distal-local, Left-right, Yin-Yang.

The rest of this lesson is reference.

Point combinations 2: left and right, Yin and Yang, front and back: When does an acupuncturist choose the side opposite the complaint, and why combine a point on the front with a point on the back of the same organ?
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Three practice questions from this lesson

What does Su Wen 63 say?
  1. Take the left for the right, the right for the left
  2. Yin diseases move to the Yang, Yang diseases to the Yin
  3. Draw Yang from Yin and Yin from Yang

Answer: Take the left for the right, the right for the left. Su Wen 63, Miu Ci Lun: 以左取右，以右取左, needling the opposite side. Drawing Yang from Yin is Su Wen 5; the movement of Yin and Yang diseases is Nan Jing 67.

What is the difference between ju ci and miu ci?
  1. Ju ci on the main channel, miu ci on the Luo vessels
  2. Ju ci on the same side, miu ci on both sides
  3. Ju ci for the Luo vessels, miu ci for the main channel

Answer: Ju ci on the main channel, miu ci on the Luo vessels. Su Wen 63: if the pathogen is in the channel, ju ci on the channel; if it is in the Luo vessels, which spread from left to right, miu ci. Both are opposite-side needling.

Spleen-Qi deficiency: on which side do you usually choose the points?
  1. Only on the left
  2. Both sides
  3. Only on the right, the side of the Spleen pulse

Answer: Both sides. Textbook knowledge: internal patterns usually on the left and right.

The rest of this lesson

In the course you get the step-by-step explanation, 22 case-based practice questions, 14 spaced-repetition flashcards, the pitfalls and the bridge to physiology with evidence grades. This lesson belongs to module 7: Treatment.

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