🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Point combination involves selecting two or more acupoints with similar or identical therapeutic effects to enhance synergistic action. The purpose is to strengthen the therapeutic effect of acupoints. The appropriateness of point combination directly affects treatment outcomes. Common methods include same meridian combination, paired meridian combination, upper-lower combination, front-back combination, and left-right combination. When combining points, balance the relationship between main and auxiliary points, aiming for minimal yet precise selection to highlight the role of primary points while appropriately incorporating secondary points.
Same Meridian Combination: When a specific organ or meridian is diseased without involvement of other organs, select acupoints along the affected meridian to form a prescription. For example, for cough due to lung disease, select Zhongfu (LU1), the lung's mu point, and additionally distant points such as Chi Ze (LU5) and Taiyuan (LU9) on the same meridian.
Paired Meridian Combination: Based on the yin-yang and exterior-interior relationships between organs and meridians. When a particular organ or meridian is diseased, select acupoints from its paired meridian to form a prescription. For example, for liver disease, select Taichong (LR3) on the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian paired with Yanglingquan (GB34) on the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, its paired meridian.
Same Name Meridian Combination: Based on the theory of “same energy connection” among homonymous meridians, pairing acupoints from homonymous hand and foot meridians. For example, for toothache, select Hegu (LI4) on the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian paired with Neiting (ST44) on the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian; for headache, select Houx溪 (SI3) on the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian paired with Kunlun (BL60) on the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian.
Upper-Lower Combination: Involves combining acupoints above the waist or on the upper limbs with those below the waist or on the lower limbs. This method is widely used clinically—for example, for gastric disorders, select Neiguan (PC6) paired with Zusanli (ST36); for toothache, select Hegu (LI4) paired with Neiting (ST44); for rectal prolapse or uterine prolapse, select Baihui (GV20) paired with Changqiang (GV1). Additionally, combinations of Eight Converging Points, such as Neiguan (PC6) with Gongsun (SP4), Waiguan (SJ5) with Linqi (GB20), Houxī (SI3) with Shenmai (BL62), Lieque (LU7) with Zhaohai (KI6), also fall under this category.
Front-Back Combination: Front refers to chest and abdomen; back refers to the back and waist. Selecting acupoints from both front and back regions for combined use is known as front-back combination, also called “yin-yang abdominal-back point pairing.” This method applies to treating internal organ diseases. For example, for stomach pain, select Zhongwan (CV12) and Liangmen (ST21) on the front, and Weishu (BL21) and Weicang (BL22) on the back; for asthma, select Tiantu (CV22) and Zhongfu (CV17) on the front, and Feishu (BL13) and Dingchuan (EX-B2) on the back.
Left-Right Combination: Involves selecting acupoints on both sides of the limbs for combined use. Clinically, bilateral points are usually selected simultaneously, such as for heart disease, select bilateral Xinshu (BL15) and Neiguan (PC6); for gastric pain, select bilateral Weishu (BL21) and Zusanli (ST36). Additionally, different named acupoints on opposite sides can also be used together—for example, for left-sided facial paralysis, select Jiache (ST6) and Dicang (ST4) on the left side, paired with Hegu (LI4) on the right side; for left-sided trigeminal neuralgia, select Touwei (GB14) and Qubin (GB2) on the left side, paired with Yanglingquan (GB34) and Xixi (GB41) on the right side.
In summary, as long as one masters basic TCM theories and understands the therapeutic functions of acupoints, properly selects acupoints, and reasonably combines them, good clinical outcomes can be achieved.