Table 1.
The function and location of the selected acupuncture points
| Acupuncture points | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ba Feng | Dorsum of foot, proximal to the web margin, midway between 2nd and 3rd, 3rd and 4th, 4th and 5th toes in the depression distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint | Clears heat; alleviates pain and numbness of dorsum of foot and weakness of foot |
| BL-17 | 1.5 Cun lateral to the caudal border spinous process of T7 | Regenerates blood and dissipate blood stasis |
| BL-35 | The crease located just lateral to the tail base | Clears damp-heat, pain of coccyx, lumbar, and hind limbs |
| BL-40 | Midpoint of popliteal crease | Benefits lumbar, knees, lower limbs, sciatic pain; activates channels and alleviates pain |
| BL-60 | Depression between lateral malleolus and common calcanean tendon, level with the tip of lateral malleolus | Relaxes muscle spasm and stiff neck; strengthens lumbar spine |
| GB-21 | Midway between C7 and acromion | Alleviates pain; benefits stiffness in neck, shoulder, and back regions; eliminates phlegm; good for hemiplasia and wind-stroke |
| GB-29 | 1/3 distance between cranial/dorsal iliac spine and prominence of greater trochanter | Benefits hip and shoulder disorders; relaxes tendon or muscle spasms; relieves pain, numbness, weakness and sciatica pain |
| GB-30 | Midpoint between greater trochanter and tuber ischii | Relaxes spasms of tendons/muscles; benefits hip joints/limbs; alleviates pain, numbness, weakness, benefits atrophy/inability to flex or extend limbs |
| GB-34 | In the depression of cranial and distal to the head of fibula | Benefits sinews/joints and alleviates pain; contraction of sinews, stiffness and tightness of muscles and joints; swelling, numbness and weakness |
| GV-2 | In the sacro-coccygeal hiatue | Benefits lumbar region and hind limbs; alleviates pain and stiffness of lower back; good for muscular atrophy of lower extremities |
| GV-4 | Between dorsal spinous process of L2 and L3 | Benefits lumbar spine; stiffness and spinal rigidity |
| GV-14 | Between dorsal spinous process of C7 and T1 | Clears heat and good for pain |
| GV-20 | Midline of skull, on a line between anterior edge of base of ears, in notch between sagittal crest and frontal crest | Pacify wind, subdue yang, and good for hemiplasia |
| Hua Tuo Jia Ji | 0.3–0.5 Cun lateral to the depression below spinous process of T12–L7 | Alleviates pain, stiffness of local area, and regulates spine |
| Leg motor sensory area | From 0.5 Cun lateral to GV22 to the posteriorly 1.5 Cun, over the precruciate gyrus, postcruciate gyrus and the sensory cortex | Benefits for paralysis, numbness, and hind limb pain |
| ST-36 | 3 Cun distal to tibial tuberosity and lateral to cranial border of tibia, in the middle of cranial tibialis muscle | Resolve dampness, tonifies Qi, nourishes blood; benefits aching of stifles and hind limbs |
| ST-40 | 8 Cun proximal to the lateral malleolus, cranial to fibula, 2 Cun lateral from tibia, midline between tibialis cranials and long digital extensor muscle | Transform phlegm; improves lower extremity muscle atrophy, motor impairment, pain and paralysis |
| Yao Yan | One handbreadth on either side of lumbar, below the level of iliac crest | Benefits lumbar region and acute or chronic lumbar pain |