Class Notes 6

POINT COMBINATIONS
CLASS NOTES: Extraordinary Vessels

There are a variety of interpretations of what the Eight Extraordinary Vessels are, and how they may be used. Here are two broad views of Extraordinary Vessels:

JOHN PIROG
Here is what John Pirog said with regards to the Extraordinary Vessels:

“By using the master points, the acupuncturist could extend the effects of his treatment to a deeper, more constitutional level of bodily function. And because the affected energies were deeper, the impact of the treatment was broader, extending beyond the extraordinary vessel to the many meridians that were connected to its route. The total system functioned like a great tree: the kidneys were the roots, the extraordinary vessels formed the trunk, the main meridians were its limbs and branches, and the essence was its sap.”

He then goes on to say that using master points is like clicking on icons to open up windows on a computer screen. The window for the extraordinary vessel might contain even more icons, representing the broad range of functions that an extraordinary vessel might representingpresent.

Pirog organizes the Eight Extraordinary Vessels into Yin (Ren, Chong, Yinqiao, Yinwei) and Yang (Du, Dai, Yangqiao, Yangwei), and Nuclear or Central (Ren, Chong, Du, Dai) and Peripheral (Yinqiao, Yangqiao, Yinwei, Yangwei).

He further characterizes each Extraordinary Vessel role as follows:

Ren Mai : Store Yin energy.
Du Mai: Store Yang energy.
Chong Mai and Dai Mai: Circulate energy between Yin and Yang regions of the body.
Yinqiao Mai/Yangqiao Mai: Distribute energy between Yin and Yang surfaces of the anatomy.
Yinwei Mai/ Yangwei Mai: Link Yin and Yang aspects of energy together.

In further detail:
REN MAI:
Functions:
sea of Yin meridians
binds together Yin meridians, especially on lower abdomen
controls anterior chest and abdomen
closely connected to functions of abdominal organs, esp. kidney, bladder, uterus, lungs
stores essential qi that spills over from yin meridians
absorbs yin meridian repletion, esp. stagnant qi and blood
upper branch supplies face and eyes

Choose Ren mai when:
symptoms focused on lower abdomen
a lot of stagnation, especially yin substances such as blood and fluids
a lot of yin pathogenic activity: damp, cold, blood stagnation, phlegm
yin substance deficiency, blood deficiency
deficiency of yin organs, especially kidney and liver
lung symptoms in general
gynecological conditions

DU MAI:
Functions:
sea of yang meridians
supports and connects yang meridians, especially on upper back and head
controls head, neck, and back; controls marrow
central nervous system
stores essential qi that spills over from yang meridians
absorbs yang meridian excess, especially heat and internal wind
abdominal branch connects with penis, vagina, and lower ren mai

Choose Du Mai when:
symptoms on head, neck, back
symptoms of stiffness, pain in muscular exterior, spasms, tremors, convulsions
yang pathogenic activity: heat, internal wind
deficiency of yang and qi
deficiency of kidney yang
impotence, urinary disorders, sterility

YINQIAO/YANGQIAO:
Functions:
nourish muscles and joints of lower limbs
allow mobility of legs, control standing and walking
nourish and moisten eyes
harmonize spirit
possibly lift spirit to head

Choose Yinqiao/Yangqiao when:
visual symptoms
difference in tension between medial and lateral aspects of legs
general differences between Yin (deep) and Yang (superficial) pulse depths
difficulty walking or standing; epilepsy

CHONG:
sea of blood
regulates menses
controls ability of blood to nourish skin and hair
circulates blood uninhibited through body
nourishes 5 viscero and 6 bowels
sea of 12 meridians; flushese qi and blood through main meridians
helps move digestate
involved in both and spiritual heart organs.

DAI MAI:
links upper and lower halves of body from waist
links yin meridians (front) with yang meridians (back)
controls shaoyang
controls muscles of abdomen that support abdomen and back

Choose Dai mai when:
weakness and sagging of lumbar and lower abdomen
parapysis and hemiplegia
cold, damp, deficiency of lower body (leukorrhea)
upward rising yang disturbances of upper body including dizziness, headache, visual disturbances
stress disorders that combine excess yang in upper body with deficiency cold in lower body

YINWEI MAI/YANG WEI MAI
links respective yin and yang meridians together.
binds and strengthens mind and body; provide structural and psychological support’’

Choose Yinwei Mai/Yangwei Mai when:
weakness/limpness of body together with insecurity and mental disturbance
contralateral/ipsialteral symptom distribution.

HOW PIROG USES EIGHT EXTRAORDINARY VESSELS:
Determine if the patient’s problem is one of STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, CIRCULATION, or LINKING. Then, choose the specific vessel involved.
Needle Master point of chosen channel.
Needle other points in treatment; HERE is where Pirog diverges from other stylists. He uses points on the trajectory of the Extras to bring essence to more specific channels.
Needle Coupled points of chosen channel.

WANG JU YI
Here is what Wang Ju Yi says about extraordinary vessels:

Wang Ju Yi wrestled with the concept of the extraordinary vessels, because they had a flow outside that of the regular channels. How could he conceive of such a flow? “One way to understand this is to think of the eight extraordinary vessels as representing the classical understanding of the slow movement of interstitial fluids, and possibly of cerebrospinal fluid. These fluids are ‘outside’ the flow of the blood, lymphatic vessels, and organs.”

He relies on a metaphor of waterways:

“While the twelve regular channels may be thought of as streams passing between mountain ranges, the extraordinary vessels may be likened to a wetland reservoir lying in the lowlands. In the spring when the streams are full, the wetlands absorb the overflow of water. In times of drought, on the other hand, the wetlands act as a source for filling the streambeds with needed water.”

To Wang Ju Yi, the eight extraordinary vessels are an “inter-regulator” that helps to regulate the 12 channel system when the regular 12 channel system cannot function. In other words, the eight extraordinary vessels are only used when more specific interventions on the 12 channels “don’t work.”

Wang Ju Yi’s notions of REN and DU are similar to the somewhat universal picture of REN and DU.

In addition to SI 3-UB 62 combos, he discusses points directly on the Extraordinary Vessels:

DU 1 is helpful for rectal prolapse/hemorrhoids;
DU 9 brings Yang to chest and stomach, and is used for chronic asthma or ulcers due to cold accumulation;
Du 12 is often used in pediatric developmental cases;
DU 19 is used to stimulate Yang to restore circulation through entire Du vessel, for back pain;
DU 21 can bring clear Yang to head in cases of dizziness, mental fogginess, etc;
DU 24 can help to calm the mind, and can be combined with REN 12 to treat speech problems (failure to connect thoughts to words).

In addition to Lung 7-Kidney 6, here are direct applications for Ren points:

REN 3 is for excess type bladder problems (prostatitis);
REN 4 with SPLEEN 6 can “reset” blood circulation, and with 4 Gates, “reset” qi circulation;
REN 6 is similar to REN 4, but has more of an effect on Qi;
REN 11 is used in combo with LI 10 and St 36 to stimulate digestion and post-natal qi;
REN 12 can both tonify and sedate the middle burner;
REN 17 reverses counterflow qi along Ren.

YINQIAO and YANGQIAO traverse the legs (and are thus used to treat all manner of leg problems) AND meet at the eyes (and are thus used to treat eye problems, including insomnia [too much eye opening] and somnambulance [too much eye closing]). We think of YINQIAO and YANGQIAO as a kind of see saw that modulates the amount of Yin and Yang in the body. Consider YINQIAO when there are COMBINED problems of the KIDNEY, SPLEEN, BLADDER, and MEDIAL EYE, and YANGQIAO when there are COMBINED problems of GALLBLADDER, BLADDER, STOMACH, LARGE INTESTINE, and LATERAL EYE.

UB 62 is often used for problems with balance and coordination of multiple muscle groups for walking and balance. “Elderly patients who have problems with coordination, or even younger patients who are clumsy, are often treated with this point.” This point is also used to treat insomnia or hypersomnia, as well as some forms of facial paralysis.

GB 20 and GB 15 are representative points on Yangqiao that may be used.

Kidney 6 may be thought of as the analog to UB 62, that is, as treating the medial muscles of the leg. However, Kidney 6 may also be thought as affecting the musculature surrounding internal organs (GI tract, swallowing, digestion). It is also considered to help with microcirculation to the brain. Kidney 6 is used to treat hypersomnia and epilepsy.

Kidney 8 is the Xi cleft of the Yinqiao, and can be used to treat certain types of DEPRESSION. It is most effective when depression involves symptom patterns that include pain/dysfunction of internal organs. Kidney 8 (Yinqiao) should be used when there is actual pain/discomfort, whereas Pericardium 6 (Yinwei) should be used when there is a vague sense of discomfort.

YINWEI and YANGWEI help to circulate energy throughout ALL Yin or Yang channels. YANGWEI is used to circulate energy (mainly source Qi, because SJ is the master point) throughout all Yang channels. YINWEI is used to nourish and irrigate all Yin channels (mainly blood, because Pc is the master point).

YANGWEI DISORDER: sensation of chills and fever (exterior deficiency); lack of Wei Qi. SJ 5

YINWEI DISORDER: “suffering from heart pain”, emotional angst tied to organ discomfort. Pc 6.

Kidney 9, the xi cleft of Yinwei, can be thought of as “a cleft point for all of the yin channels. Because the yinwei is associated with irrigation of yin in areas outside the reach of the twelve regular vessels, its cleft point (a moving point) stimulates movement in yin areas throughout the body. In the clinic, this point has been used in the treatment of TUMORS.”

CHONG integrates flow of blood to the internal organs, while DAI binds to influence the up and down movement of qi. CHONG is used when there are COUNTERFLOW symptoms (abdominal pain and/or cramping), especially when accompanied by odd internal movement felt by patient.

Spleen 4 is a helpful pain for COUNTERFLOW in general (nausea, stomach pain) but also hypertension leading to pulsing/fullness in head (remember that it modulates blood flow up).


WANG JU YI’s Different Combinations of Extraordinary Vessel Masters
Lu 7 + Sp 4: Harmonize blood circulation in reproductive organs; used to regulate menses when length of time between periods is irregular. Not appropriate for menorrhagia, amenorrhea, or painful menses.

Pc 6 + Kid 6: Diffusely irrigates Yin, combined with regulating effects of parasympathetic nervous system. Harmonizes nourishment and movement in internal organs. Symptoms: palpitations (or other heart irregularities) that are undiagnosed or stubborn to resolve; stomach pain/vomiting with no discernable disorder; plum pit qi; IBS.

SJ 5 + UB 62: Stimulate Yang circulation. Helpful in cases of sudden paralysis due to emotional/psychological causes.

SI 3 + Lu 7: For “improper Qi gong practice,” particularly of microcosmic circulation, in which Qi is stuck or blocked along the course of the microcosmic orbit due to improper practice.