Five of the 'Command' Points

Five of the 'command' points on each meridian correspond to one of the five Phases: each meridian has a Wood point, a Fire point, an Earth point, a Metal point and Water point.

These points may be chosen for their strengthening of controlling properties according to the Sheng and Ke cycles, (for example, a Fire point on an Earth meridian will be strengthening, or tonifying, as Fire precedes Earth on the Sheng cycle}; alternatively, a Water point may be used to cool, an Earth point to ground energy.

Added to their Phase function, each of the command points is classified according to its particular energy movement: the points at the tips of the fingers and toes arc called 'Well' or 'Spring' points, whereas the points located at the knees and elbows are called 'Sea' points.

The flow of energy on the extremities is seen to resemble that of a river, from its springing up from the ground, to its eventual merging with the sea.

In addition to the 'command' points, specific points on the trunk relate to a particular Organ function, and also tend in be frequently used. Traditionally, there are 365 points on the body, most of which have a specific energetic function.

Some are the meeting of meridian path-ways, others the junction with an internal pathway of the meridian: some points tend to move energy towards the interior of the body, others bring energy to the surface.

From all these diverse indications, the acupuncturist chooses a pattern of points which most suit the patient at that time, taking the pulse, the tongue and all the other methods of diagnosis into consideration.