Acupuncture & TCM Articles
Acupuncture Articles
by John A. Amaro L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM), DC
 Dr. Amaro is an internationally known author, lecturer and practitioner beginning his practice of Acupuncture and Chiropractic in 1971. He has led 13 diplomatic Acupuncture study tours of The People's Republic of China escorting more than 500 doctors and practitioners. He has personally studied Acupuncture in nine separate Asian nations.
He has received Certification in Acupuncture through the Columbia Institute of Chiropractic in 1973. This was one of the first Acupuncture postgraduate education programs for physicians in North America commencing in 1972.
He has been certified by the Waseda Acupuncture College in Tokyo, Japan in 1974 and graduated from the Chinese Medical Institute, Kowloon, China in 1976. He had previously taken postgraduate studies at the Tai Chung Medical School Taipei, China 1973.
THE "XI" - CLEFT POINTS
(Some of the most Powerful points on the body)
John A. Amaro L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM), DC
For years, I have practiced acupuncture using a combination of both Traditional and Contemporary procedures. No matter which way you actually perform acupuncture as to rationale or diagnostic means, there are certain things that never change regardless of your background or schooling especially when it comes to "in the trenches" clinical practice. The Xi-(cleft) (Hsi) points are perfect examples.
Regardless of what textbook you refer to, the Xi-cleft points are always referred to as being used for the treatment of acute disorders. They are perhaps the easiest of all the acupuncture points to use and their utilization is safe for even the rankest of neophytes. Sometimes spelled "Xi" or " Hsi" the English language usually attaches the word "cleft" behind it. They are sometimes referred to as "Accumulation" points and sometimes known as "Superchargers".
They are extremely powerful points which have a direct effect on any acute situation which affects either a meridian channel itself or what it's named after. For example LU6 would be used for acute asthma, bronchitis etc. etc. However it would also have a direct effect on where the LUNG meridian courses which is from the anterior chest wall just below the clavicle across the shoulder, down the arm through the elbow, into the wrist and ending in the thumb. Therefore, any acute musculoskeletal or visceral condition which would relate to the LUNG meridian would be affected positively by the Xi-cleft (Hsi) point. The same is true for the remainder of the meridians thus named LUNG, LARGE INTESTINE, STOMACH, SPLEEN, HEART, SMALL INTESTINE, BLADDER, KIDNEY, PERICARDIUM, TRI-HEATER (METABOLISM), GALLBLADDER and LIVER. Each meridian has a a Xi-cleft point (Hsi) between the elbow and the fingertips and the knee and toetips with the exception of the STOMACH meridian which is just above the lateral knee at ST 34.
In acupuncture to be most effective with the Xi points, it stands to reason it would be necessary to know the trajectory of the meridians. Should you be rusty on the course of the meridians, I highly recommend you find your clipped copies of my previous articles in "DYNAMIC CHIROPRACTIC". See the Dec. 1, 1989, Jan. 3, 1990, as well as an entire series of articles entitled "The Most Important Notes of Acupuncture". This series was presented in four parts each month from October 24, 1990 through January 18, 1991.
Should you be a more recent reader of "DYNAMIC CHIROPRACTIC" within the last 6 years, get out your old notes on acupuncture and review the course of the meridians, if you have never had any work in acupuncture, it is way past time to do so.
The Xi-cleft points have a remarkable effect on any and all acute situations both visceral and musculoskeletal. In the case of musculoskeletal pain conditions, if your back was really against the wall and you had no idea what to do, the stimulation of all the illustrated points in general would have a very effective response. Sure it's a "shotgun" approach, however keep in mind you are much more apt to hit your target with a shotgun than with a .22
In the case of the points shown as "Yin Wei", "Yang Wei", Yang Qiao" and "Yin Qiao", these refer to the extraordinary meridians which likewise have a spectacular effect on pain conditions. These may be used in general. They are perhaps some of the most powerful effect points on the entire body when it deals with acute pain. These points should ideally be combined with Chinese herbs for the ultimate response.
Remember, the points are all bilateral and respond to non-invasive stimulation such as elementary electrical stimulation as well as simple tapping pressure, quartz piezo, laser and of course needle. Do not attempt to use needle therapy in less your State law allows for it. If you must be "Board Certified" to use needles as in Arizona, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, to name a few states, then become certified before engaging in the practice.
The Xi-cleft points are not only just good for acute pain, but often times are used in life threatening situations. One application in which the Xi-cleft points are noteworthy is to stimulate each of them to raise the overall energy readings in "Ryodoraku" or "Electro-Meridian Imaging" (EMI), when the electrical resistance of the body is extremely low. Should the overall average readings of the "EMI" be in the range of 5-10, this is a critical situation and is often seen that death is eminent.
Sometimes referred to as the "Supercharger" points the Xi points are known to raise pathologically low energy when all else fails. One of my favorite stories of acupuncture and life and death comes from a Christmas card I received from a doctor friend in 1984.
It said: "Dear John, I was invited by an MD to use my laser/electronic unit in a California hospital this fall, he said I saved the lady's life. Due to toxic shock syndrome she was in a coma not expected to live 14 more hours, remember the "charger" points, they really work. Thanks for teaching me acupuncture".
The attending physician having exhausted everything modern medicine had to offer, phoned my friend asking if there were anything he could do with acupuncture. When the doctor arrived at the hospital, the family had been summoned and the Last Rites pronounced. It was a matter of time according to the physicians. My friend performed an electronic acupuncture examination, finding every one of the meridian levels to be pathologically low and in a last ditch effort, stimulated each and every one of the Xi-cleft points. As miracles happen, the young lady mother of three small children, left the hospital under her own power four days later. Yes, these points are very powerful and even though I cannot explain why, I'm not sure I really need to!!!!!!!!!!!
If you have any background in acupuncture, re-connect with the Xi-cleft points because more than likely they were just skimmed over in class. If you don't have a background, "GET ONE".
I probably use the Xi-cleft points generally more than any other type of acupoint, they have my highest regards.
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