Table 1.
Information Associated with Key Acupoints
| No. | Criticality | Standard Name* | Acupoints | Meridian | Location** | Application Principles▲ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main acupoints | BL13 | Feishu | Bladder meridian | On the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra (T3), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Asthma; cough |
| 2 | LU1 | Zhongfu | Lung meridian | On the anterior thoracic region, at the same level as the first intercostal space, lateral to the infraclavicular fossa, 6 B-cun lateral to the anterior median line | Asthma; cough | |
| 3 | CV22 | Tiantu | Conception vessel | In the anterior region of the neck, in the center of the suprasternal fossa, on the anterior median line | Asthma; cough | |
| 4 | CV17 | Danzhong | Conception vessel | In the anterior thoracic region, at the same level as the fourth intercostal space, on the anterior median line | Asthma; cough; oppression in the chest | |
| 5 | LU6 | Kongzui | Lung meridian | On the anterolateral aspect of the forearm, on the line connecting LU5 with LU9, 7 B-cun superior to the palmar wrist crease | Asthma; cough | |
| 6 | EX-B1 | Dingchuan | Extra points | In the back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), 0.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Asthma; cough | |
| 7 | ST40 | Fenglong | Stomach meridian | On the anterolateral aspect of the leg, lateral border of the tibialis anterior muscle, 8 B-cun superior to the prominence of the lateral malleolus | Asthma; cough; phlegm | |
| 8 | Auxiliary acupoints | BL12 | Fengmen | Bladder meridian | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra (T2), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Cough; fever; pulmonary heat |
| 9 | BL11 | Dazhu | Bladder meridian | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Cough; fever | |
| 10 | GV14 | Dazhui | Governor vessel | In the posterior region of the neck, in the depression inferior to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), on the posterior median line | Cough; asthma; heat symptom complex | |
| 11 | LI11 | Quchi | Large intestine meridian | On the lateral aspect of the elbow, at the midpoint of the line connecting LU5 with the lateral epicondyle of the humerus | Obstruction syndrome | |
| 12 | SP3 | Taibai | Spleen meridian | On the medial aspect of the foot, in the depression proximal to the first metatarsophalangeal joint, at the border between the red and white flesh | Splenic asthenia | |
| 13 | BL20 | Pishu | Bladder meridian | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra (T11), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Edema; abdominal distension; diarrhea | |
| 14 | ST36 | Zusanli | Stomach meridian | On the anterior aspect of the leg, on the line connecting ST35 with ST41, 3 B-cun inferior to ST35 | Asthma; cough; edema; yang deficiency syndrome | |
| 15 | BL23 | Shenshu | Bladder meridian | In the lumbar region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Asthma; dysuria; edema | |
| 16 | CV4 | Guanyuan | Conception vessel | On the lower abdomen, 3 B-cun inferior to the center of the umbilicus, on the anterior median line | Yang deficiency (impotence, dysuria, diarrhea, etc.) | |
| 17 | KI3 | Taixi | Kidney meridian | On the posteromedial aspect of the ankle, in the depression between the prominence of the medial malleolus and the calcaneal tendon | Cough; asthma; deficiency of both qi and yin | |
| 18 | BL15 | Xinshu | Bladder meridian | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Cough; cardiodynia | |
| 19 | CV6 | Qihai | Conception vessel | On the lower abdomen, 1.5 B-cun inferior to the center of the umbilicus, on the anterior median line | Yang deficiency (impotence, dysuria, diarrhea, etc.) | |
| 20 | PC6 | Neiguan | Pericardium meridian | On the anterior aspect of the forearm, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and the flexor carpi radialis muscles, 2 B-cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease | Cardiodynia; vomit | |
| 21 | HT6 | Yinxi | Heart meridian | On the anteromedial aspect of the forearm, radial to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, 0.5 B-cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease | Asthma; yin deficiency syndrome | |
| 22 | KI7 | Fuliu | Kidney meridian | On the posteromedial aspect of the leg, anterior to the calcaneal tendon, 2 B-cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus | Edema; deficiency of kidney yin | |
| 23 | SP6 | Sanyinjiao | Spleen meridian | On the tibial aspect of the leg, posterior to the medial border of the tibia, 3 B-cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus | Deficiency syndrome | |
| 24 | LU7 | Lieque | Lung meridian | On the radial aspect of the forearm, between the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis muscles, in the groove for the abductor pollicis longus tendon, 1.5 B-cun superior to the palmar wrist crease | Cough; asthma | |
| 25 | LI4 | Hegu | Large intestine meridian | On the dorsum of the hand, radial to the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone | Pain induced by heat symptom complex | |
| 26 | LU10 | Yuji | Lung meridian | On the palm, radial to the midpoint of the first metacarpal bone, at the border between the red and white flesh | Cough; asthma; fever | |
| 27 | LU5 | Chize | Lung meridian | On the anterior aspect of the elbow, at the cubital crease, in the depression lateral to the biceps brachii tendon | Cough; asthma | |
| 28 | BL17 | Geshu | Bladder meridian | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the seventh thoracic vertebra (T7), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line | Cough; asthma | |
| 29 | LU9 | Taiyuan | Lung meridian | On the anterolateral aspect of the wrist, between the radial styloid process and the scaphoid bone, in the depression ulnar to the abductor pollicis longus tendon | Asthenia of both lung and kidney; asthma |
Notes: *Standard name, also known as WHO standard acupuncture point, collected from the book “WHO standard acupuncture point locations in the western pacific region”. **Locations, collected from the book “WHO standard acupuncture point locations in the western pacific region”. ▲Application principles, collected from old Chinese medical books and clinical reports.