15 Most Effective Acupuncture Points for Clearing Heat

Intro

• Speaker: Clara
• Topic: Effective acupuncture points for clearing heat
• Purpose: Understand the underlying imbalances to promote wellness

Key Concepts

Yin-Yang Theory

• Foundation of Chinese medicine
• Yang Excess (Excess Heat): Cleared through different treatment strategies
• Yin Deficiency (Deficiency Heat): Requires nourishment in addition to clearing heat

Excess Heat vs. Yin Deficiency

• Symptoms of Excess Heat
  • Red face, red tongue with yellow coat
  • Full, strong rapid pulse
  • Hot during the day, easy sweating
  • Constipation with smelly stools
  • Irritability, anger, insomnia (cannot fall asleep)
• Symptoms of Yin Deficiency
  • Red cheeks, red tongue with no coat
  • Thin rapid pulse
  • Hot at night, night sweats
  • Bowel movements: small pebbles
  • Symptoms are more subtle

Cases with Both Excess Heat and Yin Deficiency

• Common, especially in liver conditions
• Typically, clear excess heat first, then nourish Yin

15 Effective Acupuncture Points

1. Large Intestine 11

• Clears heat in acute/chronic conditions (fever, infection, inflammation)
• Caution: Not suitable for pain due to blood deficiency or if the pain improves with heat

2. Spleen 10

• Clears heat from the blood
• Good for symptoms related to menstruation (heavy bleeding, cramps), eczema

3. Stomach 44

• Best for clearing fire (bleeding symptoms, more severe than heat)
• Issues like acid reflux, gum bleeding, vomiting

4. Heart 5

• Luo Connecting Point of heart to small intestine
• Good for interstitial cystitis, bladder inflammation

5. Heart 8

• Yin-Spring Point, cools the mind, calms hysteria
• Useful for canker sores on the tongue

6. Kidney 1

• Grounding point, works for both excess heat and Yin deficiency
• Good for insomnia (combine with DUO 20)

7. Kidney 2

• Yin-Spring Point, clears heat
• Useful for heavy menstruation, smelly diarrhea (combine with spleen 9, gallbladder 34)

8. Bladder 65

• Detoxifies after insect bites
• Good for acute issues, or when there’s confusion (e.g. Alzheimer’s)

9. Pericardium 8

• Ghost point, treats paranoia, hallucinations, and hysteria

10. Liver 2

• Brings liver yang down, stress-induced irritability, PMS-related issues

11. Liver 5

• Luo Connecting Point, genital issues (e.g., herpes, bladder infection after intercourse)

12. Gallbladder 43

• Clears heat for migraine, hot-to-touch headaches

13. Gallbladder 44

• Jing-Well Point, clears fire for vertigo, dizziness, and dream-disturbed sleep

14. Du 14

• Convergence point of all yang channels
• Good for fever, asthma, common cold due to wind-heat

15. Stomach 25

• Effective point for addressing digestive issues (e.g., smelly diarrhea)

Conclusion

• Emphasized the importance of accurate diagnosis
• Recommended additional viewing/content for deeper understanding
• Encouraged viewers to continue learning and applying TCM principles