1.3 LOCATION OF IMPORTANT AP POINTS IN CATTLE BY TRANSPOSITION
Location of AP points in animals can be by:
a. following Traditional Texts (see part 2).
b. by reference to charts based on results of provocation experiments or clinical association of reactive points with disease of specific organs
c. by Transposition from humans.
Oswald Kothbauer (Austria), documented the paravertebral reflex (Shu) points in cattle. He injected irritant solutions into specific organs (cervix, ovary, uterus, kidney etc) and then searched for provoked reflex changes in the paravertebral area, using an electrical "Pain Point Detector". This instrument detected points of low electrical resistance (high conductivity). High conductance corresponded with reactivity to pressure-probing and the points could also be found by searching with a blunt scissors or other probe. When the reflex points were located by the probe (electrical or mechanical), the cow reacted by kicking or trying to escape or vocalising etc, due to increased reactivity to palpation or pain stimuli applied to the reflex point.
Figures 3a-3c show Kothbauer's diagnostic points. They are in two categories:
a. Reflex points and Alarm points. The relationships to the organs are shown in Table 4. The Reflex points are located mainly on the BL Channel in the transposition system.
b. Alarm points are located more ventrolaterally.
Both types of points are located in areas linked to the affected organs by the spinal nerves. They are also located at or near areas predictable from a knowledge of the Shu and Mu points in humans. Thus, Kothbauer's points are very similar to paravertebral TPs, Shu and Mu points in humans and have similar diagnostic and therapeutic uses.
Through years of clinical observation, Kothbauer, Greiff, the late Dr. Westermayer and others have documented "pain points" (reactive points, AhShi points, TPs) in the paravertebral area in cases of specific organ pathology. In general, these points agree with Kothbauer's points.
Provocation experiments has been done in pigs also (Schupbach 1985). He injected irritant solution into the body or horn of the uterus of mini-pigs. Using computer-controlled infra-red thermography, he located specific zones on the skin of the lumbosacral area which became "Hot Spots" within 10-40 minutes (average 25 minutes) after irritation of the body or horn of the uterus. These "Hot Spots" related well with classical AP points known to be related to the uterus and cervix (points over the iliac wing, lumbosacral space, sacral foramina and anterior coccygeal area (BL26.3,27-34, BaiHui, WEIKEN etc). Figure 4 shows the reflex "Hot Zone" and the warmest point (WP). In his experiments, Schupbach attempted to correlate "hot Spots" with points of low electrical resistance. The correlation was NOT significant. Many low resistance points were found but infrared thermography was more accurate at locating the reflex zones.
In further experiments (at the Vet School, Zurich), Schupbach used electrodes implanted in the uterus of mini-pigs to monitor myometrial activity following needling of the main "Hot Spot" (BL26.3, over the iliac wing). AP stimulation caused definite increase in uterine contraction.
Pending future systematic, detailed study of reflex points in animals, the human transposition system is still very useful. However, transposition of human point locations to animals is subjective because of anatomical differences between species and because of the experience and individual concepts of the practitioner. Points like BL23, ST36, GB34, LI11, GB20, BaiHui (lumbosacral space) present no problem but points on the digits and points in the intercostal spaces or along the vertebrae are more controversial, because of differences in digital anatomy and vertebrae.
Humans have the following number of vertebrae: Cervical (C) = 7; Thoracic (T) = 12; Lumbar (L) = 5; Sacral (S) = 5.
In cattle/pigs, the number is: C=7/7; T=13/15; L=6/6; S=5/5 respectively. Thus, one author may differ somewhat from another in locating points. I believe that this is not very important for clinical success using AP. All the evidence suggests that AP works via the nervous system. Therefore, AP stimuli given NEAR "correct" points would be expected to have similar effects to those from stimulation of "correct" points. Considerable scope exists for individual preference in location and selection of AP points.
Although the published and personal communications of Kothbauer, Westermayer and Yu & Hwang (1990) have been the main source of my information for cattle AP, the transposition of each point has been mine (taking my Masters' locations as well as human locations into account).
There is no internationally accepted nomenclature or charting for the transposition of points from humans to animals at this time. The International Vet Acupuncture Society (IVAS) plans to produce an agreed set of Standard Charts. Pending this development, each vet must construct a personal set or must use a set, such as by Kothbauer or Westermayer. In this paper, I attempt to construct a transposition for the cow. Thus, in the section that follows, some locations agree closely or exactly with those of my Masters; some do not. Responsibility for any errors is mine.
These locations may be used with the Cookbook prescriptions given in the attached paper ("CHOICE OF POINTS FOR PARTICULAR CONDITIONS").
Figure 5 shows the transposition of the Shu and Mu points from human to cow.
Figure 6 shows the transposition of the Shu and Mu points from human to pig. I do not attempt to prepare a complete transposition system for the pig. (Try this yourselves). The same principles may be used in pigs, as in other species.
Some points in humans are not so important to know. Others are essential. The same comment applies to animal AP. In the descriptions of point locations which follow, I have omitted some points. This was for one of four reasons:
a. they are inaccessible;
b. they are not important (other points can be used instead);
c. their location can be estimated from that of points on the same Channel; or
d. their location is very uncertain because of anatomical difficulties.
The Chinese names of the more important points are given below but the names of ALL points are given in APPENDIX 1 of the paper on the "Choice of points for particular conditions".
In the sections which follow, the following abbreviations are used:
A.= artery
ant.= anterior
ant. to= in front of
C4= 4th cervical
vertebra
CCJ= chondrocostal
junction (rib-cartilage)
Co4= 4th coccygeal
vertebra
ext.= external
ICS= intercostal space
int.= internal
J.= joint, junction
L4= 4th lumbar vertebra
lat.= lateral
M.= muscle
med.= medial
N.= nerve
post.= posterior
SCJ= sternocostal
junction
S4= 4th sacral vertebra
T4= 4th thoracic
vertebra
TMJ=
temporomandibular-joint
units of measurement: 1H (1 hand)
= 4 fingerwidths; 1F=1 fingerwidth
"= inch or tsun or
cun or Chinese Unit of body measurement
V.= vein
CV line= Conception Vessel line=ventral midline (anus
to navel to lower lip)
GV line= Governing Vessel
line = dorsal midline (anus to lumbosacral space to inside of upper lip)