San Jiao Meridian and Acupuncture Points

Introduction

• Presenter: Clara from AcuPro Academy
• Purpose: Discuss the San Jiao Meridian and its 23 acupuncture points
• Topics covered:
  • Functions of the San Jiao organ in Chinese medicine
  • Meridian pathway
  • Functions and locations of each acupuncture point
  • Clinical applications and tips

Understanding the San Jiao

• San Jiao (Triple Burner/Heater/Energizer): Unique in Chinese medicine
  • No consensus on translation; preferred to use the original term San Jiao
  • Unlike other Zang-Fu organs, it does not connect to a specific physical organ

Divisions of San Jiao

• Upper Jiao: Chest area includes the lungs, heart, and pericardium
  • Connects to Zong Qi or gathering Qi
• Middle Jiao: Includes the spleen, stomach, and gallbladder
  • Connects to Ying Qi or nutritive Qi
• Lower Jiao: Includes the kidneys, bladder, small intestine, large intestine, and liver
  • Connects to Yuan Qi or Source Chi

Special Case: Liver

• Liver: Positioned in both Middle and Lower Jiao based on different texts
  • Middle Jiao in organ system, Lower Jiao in Meridian pathway
  • Clinical issues in lower jiao can be due to the liver

San Jiao and Lymphatic System

• San Jiao's role: Detoxifying, managing damp and heat
  • Examples: Impact of damp heat in upper, middle, lower jiao

Application in Clinical Practice

• Case Study: Dampness in the spleen and heat in the stomach
  • Points to relieve heat (e.g., LI-11, Ren-12)
  • Points to reduce dampness (e.g., SP-9)
  • Use SJ points to solidify treatment

San Jiao Meridian Pathway

• Type: Hand Meridian (Yang Meridian - Shaoyang)
• Active time: 9 PM to 11 PM
  • Relation to sleeping pattern
• Pathway: Starts at fourth finger, goes up the arm, shoulder, neck, facial region, ends at the eyebrow

Functions of Acupuncture Points

SJ 1 to SJ 9

• SJ 1: Jing well point
  • For fever, red eyes, stiff tongue, irritability
• SJ 2: Ying spring point
  • For external pathogen invasion on face, fever, sore throat
• SJ 3: Shu stream point
  • Similar uses as SJ 2
• SJ 4: Yuan source point
  • Wrist pain, common cold, acute hearing loss
• SJ 5: Luo connecting point
  • For issues on cheeks, ear, temple headaches, neck issues
  • Confluent point of the Yang wei vessel
• SJ 6: Jing river point
  • Best for constipation due to excess pattern, skin rashes
• SJ 7: Xi cleft point
  • Pain along meridian, prevent epileptic attack
• SJ 8-9: Local point for pain relief
  • Focus on ear, cheeks, gum, arm pain

SJ 10 to SJ 23

• SJ 10: He-Sea point
  • Clears heat, relieves pain, transforms physical phlegm
• SJ 11-15: Shoulder and arm issues
• SJ 16: Neck pain
• SJ 17: Ear issues, jaw-related pains
• SJ 18-19: Local issues related to the jaw, neck
• SJ 20-23: Issues related to pain in upper shoulder, neck stiffness

Clinical Insights and Combinations

• Importance of combining points for effective treatments
  • Example: SJ5 with GB41 for hip relaxation
  • Application for pregnancy-related hip pain and labor
• Strategies for using points in practice
  • Example: Transforming phlegm with SJ10, adding local points for specific issues

Summary

• Utilization of the San Jiao Meridian in practice
• Importance of understanding point functions and their appropriate applications

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