Korean Four Point Needle Technique

Introduction

• Purpose: Understand the four-point needle technique by reviewing key fundamentals in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
• Fundamentals: Five Phase Theory, Shang and Ke cycles, five Shu Transport points, tonification, and sedation.

Basics of TCM Principles

Five Phase Theory

• Phases: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
• Shang Cycle (Generation Cycle): A circular representation where each element generates the next:
  • Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood
• Mother-Son Relationship:
  • Each element generates another (mother) and is generated by another (son).
  • Example: Fire is the mother of Earth, Earth is the son of Fire.
• Ke Cycle (Controlling Cycle): A pentagram representation controlling the next:
  • Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal, Metal controls Wood.

Five Shu Transport Points

• Categories: Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, He-Sea.
• Each channel has points that correspond to the five phases:
  • Yin Channels: Begin with Wood (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water).
  • Yang Channels: Begin with Metal (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth).
• Harari Points: Points on a channel where the element of the point matches the element of the channel:
  • Lung 8 (Metal point on a metal channel)
  • Spleen 3 (Earth point on an earth channel)
  • Small Intestine 5 (Fire point on a fire channel)

Treatment Strategies

Using the Shang Cycle

• Chapter 69 of the Nanjing: In cases of deficiency (tonify mother), in cases of excess (drain the son).
• Application:
  • Deficiency: Tonify the mother (fire for earth deficiency).
  • Excess: Drain the son (metal for earth excess).

Using the Ke Cycle

• Not from Nanjing, but principle-based.
• Application:
  • Deficiency: Drain the controller (wood for earth deficiency).
  • Excess: Tonify the controller (wood for earth excess).

Combining Strategies for Four-Point Needle Technique

• Deficiency: Tonify mother and sedate controller.
• Excess: Sedate son and tonify controller.
• Results in four points: Two from the channel in question, two Harari points from other channels.

Examples

• Spleen Deficiency:
  • Tonify mother point on spleen (Spleen 2 - Fire).
  • Tonify Harari point on mother channel (Heart 8 - Fire).
  • Sedate controller point on spleen (Spleen 1 - Wood).
  • Sedate Harari point on controlling channel (Liver 1 - Wood).
• Gallbladder Excess:
  • Sedate son point on gallbladder (Gallbladder 38 - Fire).
  • Sedate Harari point on son channel (SI 5 - Fire).
  • Tonify controller point on gallbladder (Gallbladder 44 - Metal).
  • Tonify Harari point on controlling channel (LI 1 - Metal).

Important Notes

• Yin/Yang Matching: Yin channels use only Yin points; Yang channels use only Yang points.
  • E.g., Use heart channel for fire in spleen issues (Swapping between Yin and Yang channels is not allowed).
• Four Points Rule: Always two points from the affected channel and two Harari points.

Conclusion

• Main Takeaway: Understanding the principles allows for recreating the combination of points rather than memorizing lists.
• Further Resources: Handouts and flow charts are available for better understanding.
• Support: Contributions through Patreon or super thanks are appreciated.