Practitioner Area San Char Points
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| San Char Points |
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| Written by James H. Maher | |
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SAN1 CHA1 When asked for a contribution to BalanceMethod.org, I really had no idea what to write about. Then, while reading some of the questions and comments on the Balance Method sites, it dawned on me that there is quite a large gap in the understanding of the San1 Cha1 points. Ergo, I decided that a discourse on these points might be just what the doctor ordered!
Compiled, collated, and translated by San1 Cha1 Yi1 (三叉一): Location: This point is located in the exact center of the interdigital web between the 2nd (index finger) and 3rd (middle finger) digits of the hand dorsally. Reaction Areas: Lung Branch and Kidney Auxiliary Reaction Areas. Channel Entry: Kidney Channel. Nature of the Point (Point Energetics): Kidney Enrichment, Ease (Calm) Pain, Boost the Kidney, Brighten the Eyes, and Invigorate Lung-Qi. Indications: Keratitis, ophthalmodynia (the sore, achy type pain), lumbalgia, sciatica, supraorbital achy pain and distention, optic nerve atrophy, hemiplegia, ‘Wilting Pattern’, back and shoulder pain. Needling Method: Perpendicular (“straight in” i.e. parallel with the metacarpal bones) insertion 2.0 cun, ergo, the tip of the needle pierces the skin in the interdigital web and ends up in the interosseous space between these two metacarpals. The needle should be inserted while the patient makes a (loose) fist. Needle Sensation: Localized aching, distention, numbness, and/or electric shock sensation. San1 Cha1 Er4 (三叉二): Location: This point is located in the exact center of the interdigital web between the 3rd (middle finger) and 4th (ring finger) digits of the hand dorsally. Reaction Areas: Spleen and Liver Branch Reaction Areas. Channel Entry: Spleen Channel and Liver Channel. Nature of the Point (Point Energetics): Fortify the Spleen, Quicken the Network Vessels, Rectify, Resolve, Dispel Stasis, and Invigorate Heart-Qi. Indications: Pancreatitis, Splenomegaly, Hemiplegia, Sciatica, Hand and Foot Paralysis, ‘Liver-Weakness’, and knee pain. Needling Method: Perpendicular (“straight in” i.e. parallel with the metacarpal bones) insertion 2.0 cun, ergo, the tip of the needle pierces the skin in the interdigital web and ends up in the interosseous space between these two metacarpals. The needle should be inserted while the patient makes a (loose) fist. Needle Sensation: Localized aching, distention, numbness, and/or electric shock sensation. San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三): Location: This point is located in the exact center of the interdigital web between the 4th (ring finger) and 5th (pinky finger) digits of the hand dorsally. Reaction Areas: Kidney Reaction Area. Channel Entry: Kidney Channel. Nature of the Point (Point Energetics): Kidney Enrichment, Ease (Calm) Pain, Boost the Kidney, Disinhibit Urine, and Invigorate Spleen-Qi. Indications: ‘Dizzy Head Clouded Head’, sciatica, osteophytes, ‘Aching Lumbus’, lumbar pain, pyelitis, edema secondary to kidney disease, achy leg pain, headache, shoulder pain, sore throat, tinnitus, palpitations, myasthenia, and severe ‘common cold’. Needling Method: Perpendicular (“straight in” i.e. parallel with the metacarpal bones) insertion 2.0 cun, ergo, the tip of the needle pierces the skin in the interdigital web and ends up in the interosseous space between these two metacarpals. The needle should be inserted while the patient makes a (loose) fist. Needle Sensation: Localized aching, distention, numbness, and/or electric shock sensation.
Differentiation: While the locations of the Tung Style San1 Cha1 acupuncture points are the same as the Extraordinary Baxie points, the treatment indications, however, are entirely different (per Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Foreign Language Press, Beijing: Excessive heat, finger numbness, spasm and contracture of the fingers, redness and swelling of the dorsum of the hand). Furthermore, the needling methods indicated for the Extraordinary Baxie points are to puncture obliquely to a depth of 0.3 cun to 0.5 cun (3 fen to 5 fen) or to prick with a ‘Three-Edged Needle’ to cause bleeding. Note: The San1 Cha1 points were NOT included in Dr. Tung’s original text; Dr. Hu first wrote of these points in his text: Shi2 Yong4 Dong3 Shi4 Zhen1 Jiu3 Qi2 Xue2 Quan2 Ji2 (實用董氏針炙奇穴全集: ‘Practical Tung Family Acupuncture: Extraordinary Points - Collected Works’), and while these points were not included in Dr. Tung’s original text, they are, nonetheless, among those points exhibiting extraordinary efficacy. There are a total of 3 points on each hand and each of these three points exhibits its own ‘Channel Entry’; the effect on the respective channel is to ‘Regulate, Correct, Adjust, and Supplement’ said channel(s). These important points are among those which were frequently employed by Dr. Tung. Clinical Experiences: 1. Simultaneously needling San1 Cha1 Yi1 (三叉一), San1 Cha1 Er4 (三叉二), and San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三) can help the body recover its strength during the ‘common cold’. These three points, like Tung’s points DMG 99-01 ‘Spirit Ear Three Needles’ (NA), Shui3 Jin1 (1010.20), Shui3 Tong1 (1010.19), Tong1 Shen4 (88.09), are not only effective in treating disease but also function to Regulate and Supplement the Qi and Blood. One may use San1 Cha1 Yi1 (三叉一), San1 Cha1 Er4 (三叉二), and San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三) with DMG 99-01 ‘Spirit Ear Three Needles’ (NA) in patients who are relatively ‘Vacuous’. 2. Because each of the 3 points in this group (San1 Cha1 三叉) exhibits is own unique Channel Entry, in order to maximize clinical efficacy, it is recommended that one coordinate appropriate point selection with the findings from Tung’s Palmar Diagnosis. 3. The Channel Entry for San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三) is the Kidney Channel which, according to the Five-Phase (Five Elements) framework, pertains to Water. Patients who have experienced a reduction in visual acuity often exhibit a pattern discrimination which includes a relative ‘Kidney Water Vacuity’. The Liver pertains to Wood and controls the eyes; Wood supplements this visual deficiency. Ergo, needling this point to stimulate the Kidney-Water in turn supplements Liver-Wood and has the ultimate effect of Enriching the Kidney and Boosting the Eyes. Clinically, one may combine DMG 77-12 ‘Lower Three Emperors’ and a strong rotational needling technique at San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三) to provide a great benefit to the eyes. 4. After needling San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三), one may add the proximal Wan4 Shun4 (腕順) point producing the Tung Acupuncture ‘T’ needling method and, thereby, increase the clinical efficacy of San1 Cha1 San1 (三叉三). 5. Use San1 Cha1 with Ling2 Gu3 (22.05) for sciatica that shoots into the lower extremity (Grade 2 or Grade 3 sciatica); first needle Ling2 Gu3 (22.05) then needle San1 Cha1. 6. When needling these points, GO SLOWLY; if you encounter resistance, wait a few seconds, then continue. If you are able to insert the needle further, proceed until resistance is met again and repeat the process until the needle has been inserted fully. If, when you first encounter any initial resistance, you stop, wait a few moments, but still encounter resistance, you may have to redirect the needle dorsally or ventrally to properly insert the needle to its full extent. The key to painless insertions at these points is to employ slow, deliberate, and patient insertions. One should needle contralateral to the pain when using these points to address painful conditions.
Compiled, collated, and translated by
Author of: Advanced Tung Style Acupuncture Vol. 2: Obstetrics and Gynecology - The Acupuncture of Master Tung Ching-Chang and its Applications in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Soon to be released (Fall, 2006):
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