Course C/Section 1 - Indicators

bbsadmin

1) The information associated with the individual points in Course C - Section 1 show indicators associated symptomatically with that particular point. The same indicators may be present in multiple points on the same meridian or on multiple points in different meridians. Can you please explain the uses of these indicators as they pertain to diagnostic methodology versus actual treatment?

2) There does not appear to be prescribed uses for the individual acupoints or combination use of acupoints listed in this section. (i.e. which points are used for the tonification of or to reduce the function of organ systems to achieve healing or homostasis) Does this mean that in this section we will not be required to understand the function(s) of each individual point, but merely to be able to locate it?
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tutor

Dear Jeff,
Let's discuss your questions.
!). That's right! It is the feature of traditional Chinese medicine that the system is complicated and there are alot of interconnections in between the internal organs, so the organs are also interconnected in terms of the physiological functions. So, the meridians related with certain internal organs would have similar indications, consequently!
One of the characters of the acupoints is that points of the same meridian would have similar actions or functions, so the similar indications, I think this will be expressed in course D.
That accounts for the idea that one indication can be presented or treated by multiple points or vice versa many points would be able to treat one certain indication. For example, many points of stomach meridian could be used to treat stomachache, not only, evey the points of spleen would also be able to treat stomachache (you should tell me why!) and even a couple of points of large intestine meridian can be also used when the digestive disorders are treated, because the stomach and large intestine meridians are of the same name, the Yangming meridians.
In clinic, every individual acupuncture physician would have more or less individual preference in prescribing the acupoints apart from the conventional principles of how to prescribe the acupoints.
So one day when you do acupuncture well, you must have your own choice when prescribing acupoints.

tutor

Answer 2).
This aspect will be discussed more in the course D. Actually, there are different opinions on how to understand the functions or actions of the acupoints, and actually in ancient literatures of acupuncture there are no actions or functions for the acupoints, but only the indications, e.g. headache, backache, hernia, masses or lumps, etc.
So at the moment, you should know the locations of the points, and the indications as well. You should also pay the attention for the needling techniques, but that's easier, in the arm and leg and lower back (hip), you can do deeper, like 1cun to 1.5cun. while in the chest and upper back, you'd better do superficially. In the lowera abdomen, you can do it according to the patients' individual condition.
You don't have to remember the vasculature and innervations.