🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Acupoints are one of the main components of acupuncture prescriptions. There are 361 standard acupoints on the meridians, plus numerous extra-meridian points. To select appropriate acupoints, one must first understand their characteristics and therapeutic functions. Only by relying on meridian and acupoint theories and integrating them with clinical practice can one reasonably choose suitable acupoints, laying the foundation for correct prescription formulation. The selection of acupoints in acupuncture prescriptions is based on principles of yin-yang, zang-fu organs, meridians, and qi-blood. The fundamental principle is “selecting points along the meridian,” derived from the concept that “where the meridian flows, there the treatment applies.” Therefore, under the guidance of “meridian-based selection,” the principles of point selection include local selection, distal selection, and syndrome-specific selection.
Local Selection: Refers to choosing acupoints near or at the site of the disease, based on the local therapeutic effect of acupoints. This method is widely used. Any condition with clearly localized and obvious surface symptoms can be treated using this principle. For example, for eye diseases, select Jingming (BL1), Qiuhou (BL1), Zanzhu (BL2), and Fengchi (GB20); for nasal diseases, select Yingxiang (LI20) and Juxiao (GB2); for facial paralysis, select Jiache (ST6) and Dicang (ST4); for stomach pain, select Zhongwan (CV12)—all belong to local selection.
Distal Selection: Involves selecting acupoints at a distance from the site of the disease, based on the distal therapeutic effect of acupoints. This is a fundamental method in acupuncture prescription and reflects the concept of syndrome differentiation and treatment. Distal selection is widely used clinically, often selecting points below the elbow or knee. In practice, one may choose points on the same meridian as the affected organ or meridian (same meridian selection), points on the paired meridian (paired meridian selection), or points on the homonymous meridian (homonymous meridian selection). For example, cough and hemoptysis, being lung-related conditions, can be treated by selecting Chi Ze (LU5), Yuji (LU10), and Taiyuan (LU9) on the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian (same meridian selection), or selecting Taibai (SP3) on the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian (homonymous meridian selection). For gastric pain, a stomach disorder, select Zusanli (ST36) on the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and additionally select Gongsun (SP4) on the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian (paired meridian selection). For facial conditions, select Hegu (LI4); for red eyes, select Xingjian (LR2); for chronic diarrhea with rectal prolapse, select Baihui (GV20); for acute lumbar sprain, select Shui沟 (GV26)—all are examples of distal selection.
Syndrome-Specific Selection: Also known as symptomatic or differential diagnosis-based selection, this principle involves selecting acupoints based on general symptoms or etiology/pathogenesis of diseases. This approach is proposed based on TCM theory and acupoint therapeutic functions. In clinical practice, many conditions—such as fever, insomnia, frequent dreams, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, collapse, convulsions, coma—cannot be localized precisely and do not suit the above methods. Thus, one must conduct differential diagnosis, categorize the condition into a specific zang-fu organ or meridian, then apply syndrome-specific selection to choose appropriate acupoints. For example, for insomnia due to heart-kidney disharmony, classify it as involving the Heart and Kidney meridians, so select acupoints such as Shenmen (HT7) and Taixi (KI3) on these meridians.
For specific prominent symptoms, acupoints may also be selected based on clinical experience. For example, for fever, select Dazhui (GV14) and Quchi (LI11); for excessive phlegm, select Fenglong (ST40)—these may also fall under the category of syndrome-specific selection.