3 What Are the Characteristics and Principles of Sensitized Acupoints?
A big reaction triggered by small stimulation is the characteristic reaction of sensitized acupoints to appropriate external stimulation. The sensation of the transmission of channel qi is easily elicited on heat-sensitized acupoints when stimulated by moxibustion. The arrival of this qi sensation at the disease-affected sites is what causes the therapeutic effect.
Certain features should be investigated for to determine whether an acupoint is heat sensitized.
The first, penetrating heat (透热 ), is when the heat from the burning moxa stimulating the skin travels into the underlying tissues or organs. (Fig. 1-2) (Full-color images can be found at the end of the book.)
The second, expanding heat (扩热) is when the heat sensation moves outward from the spot receiving moxibustion. (Fig. 1-3)
The third, transmitting heat (传热), is a heat sensation that travels from the spot receiving moxibustion along a certain route, sometimes to the diseased area. (Fig. 1-4)
The fourth, distal but not local heat, refers to heat felt at a site away from the spot receiving moxibustion, and with only mild sensation at the site of moxibustion.
The fifth, deep but not superficial heat, is heat that is felt in the underlying tissues or organs but not at the spot receiving moxibustion. The sixth, non-heat sensations,are sensations other than heat felt at or away from the spot receiving moxibustion, and include soreness, distention, pressure, heaviness, pain, numbness and cold.
These six moxibustion sensations occur when moxa stimulates heat-sensitized acupoints. The presence of any of these sensations, alone or in combination, indicates that the acupoint has been heat sensitized.
Acupoints that are heat sensitized have several basic characteristics.
First, heat-sensitization is relatively common. A survey of acupoints in diseased and healthy people revealed that the rate of acupoint heat sensitization among healthy people was around 10%. The rate among people with active disease was around 70%, much higher than the rate in healthy people. Twenty diseases were part of this survey, including cervical spondylosis, prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc, osteoarthritis of the knee,myofascial pain syndrome, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, non-ulcer dyspepsia,functional constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, anovulatory infertility, chronic pelvic inflammation, dysmenorrhea and peripheral facial paralysis. The heat-sensitized acupoints mostly occurred in patterns involving cold, dampness, blood stasis and deficiency, and in both acute or chronic diseases. After recovery, the rate of heat sensitization in the disease group fell to around 10%. This indicates that heat sensitization is common under disease conditions, and its presence is strongly correlated with disease states.
Second, the locations of heat-sensitized acupoints are not fixed. In a survey of patients with peripheral facial paralysis, prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc,osteoarthritis of the knee, myofascial pain syndrome, bronchial asthma, dysmenorrhea and anovulatory sterility, the locations of heat-sensitive and regular channel points were compared. It was found that the locations of heat-sensitive acupoints changed according to variations in the patients’ conditions. The locations of heat-sensitive acupoints were found to be the same as regular channel points 48.76% of the time, and heat-sensitive acupoints were tender on palpation 34.75% of the time. We concluded that the traditional locations of channel points and the presence of tenderness can only be used as a reference when locating heat-sensitive acupoints. Heat-sensitive sensation is the optimal way to locate heat-sensitive acupoints.
The Spiritual Pivot – Back-shu Points states, “BL 11 (dà zhù) is located on both sides below the first vertebra. BL 13 (fèi shù) is located on both sides below the third vertebra.BL 15 (xīn shù) is located on both sides below the fifth vertebra. BL 17 (gé shù) is located on both sides below the seventh vertebra. BL 18 (gān shù) is located on both sides below the ninth vertebra. BL 20 (pí shù) is located on both sides below the eleventh vertebra.BL 23 (shèn shù) is located on both sides below the fourteenth vertebra. These acupoints lie along both sides of the spine with three cun between them. To determine the point is correct, press it. If there is an internal response and pain is relieved, it is the point.”[5]
According to The Spiritual Pivot – Five Pathogenic Factors, “If the patient has a severe cough that causes the shoulders and back to shake, choose LU 3 (tiān fŭ), LU 2(yún mén) and BL 13 (fèi shù). Press these points forcefully. If relief is quick, insert the needles.” [6]
Third, the locations of heat-sensitive acupoints are connected to the patient’s disease.According to our research, heat-sensitive acupoints have some common characteristics.For example, in peripheral facial paralysis, heat sensitization usually occurs at TE 17 (yì fēng); in functional constipation at BL 25 (dà cháng shù); in dysmenorrhea at CV 4 (guān yuán); and in allergic rhinitis at shàng yìn táng (上印堂 ). Similar research has been conducted on more than 20 diseases of the nervous, motor, digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems, and which revealed a close connection between the locations of the heat-sensitive acupoints and the symptoms or disease.
Fourth, the likelihood of achieving transmission of channel qi increases when heatsensitive acupoints are stimulated with suspended moxibustion, as opposed to using traditional methods. We conducted a study in which the transmission of channel qi was examined in 540 patients treated with suspended moxibustion. Fourteen diseases were studied: facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, cervical spondylosis, prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc, knee osteoarthritis, myofascial pain, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional constipation, irritable bowel syndrome,anovulatory infertility, dysmenorrhea and erectile dysfunction. Transmission of channel qi was observed in 94% of heat-sensitive acupoints that were treated, as opposed to only 23.5% for regular channel points, a significant statistical difference.
The above characteristics show that heat-sensitive acupoints react positively to outside stimulus. In other words, only a small stimulation is needed to elicit a big reaction,which in this case is the transmission of the channel qi to the diseased part of the body.The discovery of heat-sensitive acupoints was a great breakthrough that advanced the principle of, “The arrival of qi ensures the therapeutic effect. This effect is reliable, like the wind blowing away the clouds to see the heavens.”[7]