DIRECTION OF FLOW OF Qi
chest to finger eye to toe to
Circuit finger to face toe chest
1 LU -> LI -> ST -> SP (revolution 1)
| (0300 - 1100h)
(------<---------------------------<----)
|
2 HT -> SI -> BL -> KI (revolution 2)
| (1100 - 1900h)
(------<---------------------------<----)
|
3 PC -> TH -> GB -> LV (revolution 3)
| (1900 - 0300h)
(------<---------------------------<----)
|
LU (new daily cycle begins at 3 a.m.)
Let us call these groupings Sequence 1.
Now construct a simple format as follows (see below): put 6 boxes in a line on top and 6 boxes in a line underneath this (See Diagram below). Starting at the top left, join all the boxes in a clockwise spiral. Put "LU"in the top left box and mark it 0400h (4 a.m.). Fill in the remaining circles, using Sequence 1 (above). Add 2 hours to each new position.
Let A to B divide the diagram vertically and C to D divide the diagram horizontally. Put an X where A-B intersects the spiral. Call this Diagram 1. This diagram (a very important memory aid) contains most of what you need to know on the COS sequence, the direction of flow, the Yin-Yang COSs, the Chinese Clock (Qi Tide times), the paired COSs and the Arm and Leg COSs.
DIAGRAM 1. BASIC MEMORY AID TO THE 12 MAIN COSs.
A
< - - - - YIN - - - - > < - - - - YANG - - - >
Metal
>------------->--------X---------->---------->-
| Fire |
Chest to | >---->--------X------------>- | Finger to
Finger | | Fire | | Face
| | >----X--->- | |
| | | | | |
Arm LU HT PC TH SI LI Arm
0400h 1200h 2000h 2200h 1400h 0600h
| . . | | |
C |<----.-----<--.--< | | | D
. . | | | |
. . | | | |
Leg SP KI LV GB BL ST Leg
Toe to 1000h 1800h 0200h 0000h 1600h 0800h Face (eye)
Chest | | <----X---<- | | to Toe
| | Wood | |
| <----<--------X------------<- |
| Water |
<-------------<--------X----------<----------<-
Earth
< - - - - YIN - - - - > < - - - - YANG - - - >
B
In Diagram 1 (above), X indicates the Phase-Mates (Yin-Yang Pairs within each Phase). Also, note that the superficial Channels of:
to the left of line A-B are Yin COSs:
to the right of line A-B are Yang COSs:
The Arm Yins (LU, HT, PC) begin on the chest and go to the fingers (fingers 1, 5, 3, or thumb, little and middle fingers, respectively). They all run on the palmar/flexor (Yin) side of the forearm and hand.
The Arm Yangs (TH, SI, LI) begin on the fingers (fingers 4, 5, 2, or ring, little and index fingers, respectively) and go to the face. They all run on the dorsal/extensor (Yang) side of the hand and forearm.
The Leg Yangs (GB, BL, ST) begin on the face (near the eye) and go to the toes (toes 4, 5 and 2 respectively). They all run on the antero-lateral (Yang) side of the leg and foot
The Leg Yins (SP, KI, LV) begin on the toes (toes 1, s, 1, or big toe, sole and big toe, respectively) and go to the chest. The only exception is KI, which modern texts place on the sole of the foot. (In ancient texts, it was placed at the medial angle of the nail of the little toe, in a place analogous to HT at the medial angle of the nail of the little finger).
In Diagram 1, all the COSs above the C-D line go to or come from the fingers, i.e. are Arm COSs. All below the C-D line come from or go to the toes (i.e.) are Leg COSs. Thus, LU, HT, PC (Yin) and TH, SI, LI (Yang) are Arm COSs and SP, KI, LV (Yin) and GB, BL, ST (Yang) are Leg COSs.
The Qi of LU is maximal at 4 a.m. (0300-0500h). Going around the clockwise spiral, simply add 2 hours to fill in the time of high (Qi) tide in the other COSs: LI (0600h); ST (0800h); SP (1000h); HT (1200h, noon); SI (1400h); BL (1600h); KI (1800h); PC (2000h); TH (2200h); GB (0000h, midnight); LV (0200h). This is the concept of the body Qi tide.
Note: six COSs are related to sexual organs/function and activity. They are:
LI, ST, SP (0600-1000h, the time for lazy weekend lie-in sex?)
and KI, PC, TH (1800-2200h, the time for active, urgent sex?).
LV (0200h) also plays a role in metabolising steroids. In case some of you are worried that your sex-clock is out of order, not to worry! These are memory aids and any time will do in an emergency!
In diagram 1, the X on each pair of COSs marks the Phase-Mate Pairs (linked COSs within the same Phase). These are:
| LU X LI | -> | ST X SP | -> | HT X SI | -> | BL X KI | -> | PC X TH | -> | GB X LV |
| Metal | -> | Earth | -> | Fire | -> | Water | -> | Fire | -> | Wood |
Note that the underlined one in each-pair is Yin and the other one is Yang. The Yin COS of each pair is called the Wife and the Yang COS called the Husband. The arrow (->) indicates a Change of Phase.
Though this paper will not discuss the Five Phase Theory in great detail, the linked pairs are related to the Five Phases as follows:
| Yin | Yang | ||
| Limb | Phase | (Wife) | (Husband) |
| Arm | Metal | Lu | LI |
| = | Fire | HT | SI |
| = | Fire | PC | TH |
| Leg | Wood | LV | GB |
| = | Water | KI | BL |
| = | Earth | SP | ST |
The Phase-Mates (linked COSs, Wife-Husband pairs within each Phase) are important in classic AP, mainly because:
Thus, it is important to know which COSs are linked (the Husband-Wife pairs within each Phase) and the Luo points which allow interchange of Qi between them. (Note: in classic AP one always treats the Deficient COS, drawing Qi directly or indirectly from some other COS which has Excess Qi.
To return to the sequence of Qi flow, there are 3 complete Circuits or revolutions of Qi around the body every 24 hours. Then a new cycle begins.
Sequence 1 "LULISTo / SPHTSI / BLaKI-PC / TRI-GALL-LV" can be re-written:
Qi (ENERGY) CIRCUIT BODY
TIME SUPERFICIAL PATH THROUGH THE BODY REVOLUTION
Arm Yin -> Arm Yang -> Leg Yang -> Leg Yin
chest-hand -> hand-face -> eye- toe -> toe-chest
0300-1100h LU -> LI -> ST -> SP 1
1100-1900h HT -> SI -> BL -> KI 2
1900-0300h PC -> TH -> GB -> LV 3
The midline Extra Channels, GV (Governor vessel, dorsal) and the CV (Conception Vessel, ventral) are not included in the 12 Main Channels. They are regarded more as reservoirs of Qi and their points are used mainly for local symptoms or disorders anywhere along their course and in some general prescriptions. They are not considered in relation to the Five Phase Laws, body Qi tide etc.
LEARNING THE FIRST AND LAST POINTS OF THE CHANNELS
One must know the position of the first and last points on the superficial path of each of the 12 main Channels for two reasons:INJURY, SCARS ON CHANNELS: If there is a physical blockage along the course of a Channel (for instance strongly fibrosed scar tissue due to injury or surgery), one may see symptoms of Excess COS Qi up-stream (above the blockage) and Deficient COS Qi down-stream (below the blockage). Also, the Excess Qi may back-up into the Mother COS (upstream from the blocked Channel in the basic Qi circuit) and the Deficient Qi (downstream of the blocked Channel) may weaken the Qi in the Son COS (Sequence 1)).
WHY LEARN CHANNEL ANATOMY AND QI FLOW? The importance of scars/Channel blockage and of knowing the Qi circuits, direction of flow and anatomical/organ/function relationships of COSs is shown by the following:
A middle-aged man complained of a bewildering number of symptoms over a period of 8 years. First, he had haematuria and kidney/bladder pain which was treated by hospitalization and antibiotics as nephritis-cystitis. He had a few incidents of right-sided sciatica, which were temporarily relieved by hospitalization, ultrasound and traction. He had interscapular and shoulder-area pain on the right side; tinnitus in the right ear; conjunctivitis and headache on the right side. His most bizarre symptom (which occurred 2 or > times in 8 years) was to wake up at night with his right arm in spasm and a very severe pain shooting down the inner side of the right arm into his little finger.
Over an 8-year period, he had been treated by various specialists in urology, orthopaedics, an ear specialist, an eye specialist and a cardiologist. None of these specialists bothered to ask him about his scar! Two years before the first of the above symptoms (nephritis/cystitis), he had a right lobectomy for pulmonary TB. His thorax was incised from the sternum to within a few inches of his spine. Eight years later, when he consulted an acupuncturist, it was found that most of the scar was well healed but that, in the area of the two lines of the BL Channel on the right paravertebral area of the thorax, marked twisting and pulling of the tissues was caused by the scar. The acupuncturist knew that in TCM all the patient's symptoms could be traced to that scar, which was causing a blockage of Qi in the BL Channel. According to TCM, a block at the thoracic level of the BL Channel would cause Excess Qi above the block and Deficient Qi below it. The nephritis/cystitis, sciatica, interscapular pain, headache and conjunctivitis could be traced to the upset in the BL Qi. (The BL Channel begins at the inner canthus of the eye, passes across the head, down by the interscapular area, down over the kidney area and goes down the back of the leg (the classic sciatic area). The tinnitus and the arm spasm/ inner arm pain to the little finger could be traced to Excess Qi in the SI COS. The tinnitus and nephritis also relate to Deficient Qi in the KI COS (KI is the Son of BL and is related to the kidneys and ears, as well as to urogenital function). Note, in the sequence of Qi flow (LU-LI-ST-SP-HT-SI-BL-KI-PC-TH-GB-LV), the SI COS is the Mother of (precedes) the BL and Excess Qi in BL can back-up into SI) and KI is the Son of BL. Weakness in the lower part of BL would weaken the KI COS; the weak Mother can not feed the Son. The SI Channel begins at the little finger, runs the inside of the arm and ends at SI19, at the ear. The KI Channel begins at the sole of the foot and connects to the kidney and ear.
The acupuncturist did not believe that he could influence the case very much but he decided to try. Thus, he advised procaine injection of the tender points along the scar, a short course of needles in BL points and regular massage and physiotherapy of the scar and BL Channel, especially in the area of the scar. Although predicted by classic concepts, the outcome was quite fantastic. All the symptoms disappeared and, to my knowledge, did not return. This was the first time that the acupuncturist had used procaine injection in Scar Therapy. Since then, he has used it many times in patients with trigger points on scars, with excellent results.
A friend of mine had bunion-surgery on her big toe. After surgery, she had very severe pain in the toe and medial aspect of the foot. For 18 months she could not put weight on the medial aspect of the foot and was in constant pain. Six sessions of electro-AP at LV03, SP06; KI03, GB34, SP03 and web of toe 1 to 2, with one needle running under the scar give an improvement of 90%. Complete relief of pain followed two procaine therapies of the scar. The pain has not returned since.
Mary Austin and Felix Mann also give examples of trauma and scar tissue formation causing blockage of Channels and symptom pictures which were successfully eliminated by treatment of the scar. Also, the German-Austrian system of Neural Therapy and Scar Therapy pays particular attention to scar tissue. There are many examples of bizarre human symptoms which disappear after scar-therapy by massage, injection or other physiotherapy to release the blockage.
Be very careful to investigate scars: In taking the case history of a new human patient, a skilled acupuncturist will always inquire about body scars and will examine them for any possible connection between them and the symptom-picture of the patient in relation to Channel paths, the Mother and Son COSs and the symptomatology. This is also important in vet AP and it is advisable to check it out, just in case there may be a cause and effect relationship. If there is any connection, the scar must be treated as part of the therapy.
FIRST AND LAST POINTS ON THE CHANNELS: As a memory aid, prepare the following sequence (F = Finger; T = Toe):
F T BODY CIRCUIT SIX LEVELS OF QI
5 5 Yang
(2)
5 (5) Yin
------------ ------------- ---------------------
4 4 Yang
(3)
3 (1) Yin
------------ ------------- ---------------------
2 2 Yang
(1)
1 1 Yin
----------- ------------- ---------------------
Let us call this Sequence 2. The boxes are numbered (2), (3), (1) from top to bottom, indicating which Qi Body Circuit will occupy them.
Note that: finger/toe 1 and 3 are Yin; finger/toe 2 and 4 are Yang and finger/toe 5 has 2 Channels each, one Yin and one Yang.
Now, using Body Circuit 1 from Sequence 1 (LU-LI-ST-SP), fill in the Channels in the bottom box, as shown below. Then, using Body Circuit 2 from Sequence 1 (HT-SI-BL-KI), fill in the Channels in the top box below. Finally, using Body Circuit 3 from Sequence 1 (PC-TH-GB-LV), fill in the Channels in the centre box below:
(Body Circuit)
Channel
Finger Toe Arm Leg SIX LEVELS OF Qi
5 5 SI --->--- BL GREAT Yang (Tai Yang)
^ |
| (2) |
5 (5) HT KI LITTLE Yin (Shao Yin)
------------ ------------- ---------------------
4 4 TH --->--- GB LITTLE Yang (Shao Yang)
^ |
| (3) |
3 (1) PC LV EXTREME Yin (Chueh Yin)
------------ ------------- ---------------------
2 2 LI --->--- ST SUNLIGHT Yang (Yang Ming)
^ |
| (1) |
1 1 LU SP GREAT Yin (Tai Yin)
----------- ------------- ---------------------
We know from Diagram 1 that LU goes from chest to finger. Sequence 2, therefore, tells us that the last point (LU11) is on F1 (thumb). Similarly, LI goes from finger to face, therefore LI01 is on F2 (index finger).
There are two small anomalies in this memory aid. Firstly, KI01 is now shown as being on the sole of the foot (see standard texts). However, in ancient texts, it was shown on the 5th toe. Also, LV01 is not on the 3rd toe, but is on the 1st (big) toe. To distinguish them, think of stubbing the inside of your big toe on a rock. In English, to vent Spleen = to show ANGER . SP01 is on the medial side of the big toe nail. Also, a very important liver point (Tai Chung, LV03) is between the upper ends of metatarsal bones 1 and 2, in the same position as HoKu (LI04) of the hand. Remember LV03 as the HoKu equivalent of the foot. (This helps you remember LV01 as lateral side of big toe nail).
Similarly, two COSs are associated with the little finger (F5) (HT and SI). The last point of HT (HT09) is on the thumb-side (radial side) of the nail of F5 and SI01 is on the opposite (ulnar) side of the nail of F5 (the side next to the chopping edge of the hand). Another way to remember this is to hold your hand, palm open, towards your face. Now look at the "Heart Line" of the palm. (This line runs from the little finger side, towards the index finger. Now, if you slowly clench your fist, you will see that the heart line makes a crease which ends at the edge of the fist near the little finger. The end of this crease is SI03 (an important point). Again, open the hand and slowly flex the 4th and 5th fingers. They will touch the "Heart Line" in the palm. This point is HT08. Thus, if you can remember SI03 and HT08 you can work out where HT09 and SI01 should be.
The TSUN, CUN, or Chinese INCH: When learning the location of AP points, the TSUN is used as the unit of body measurement. In the human adult 1 TSUN is approximately 1 inch (25 mm), but it varies with body size. It is better understood as a ratio in relation to fixed body landmarks:
THE POSITIONS OF THE TWELVE POINTS NEAR THE NAILS ARE:
Arm Yin (last points at a finger nail)
Arm Yang (first points at a finger nail)
Leg Yang (last points at a toe nail)
Leg Yin (first points at a toe nail)
However, we are still missing 12 more points (the chest and face points). Diagram 1 tells us that LU, HT, PC begin on the chest; LI, SI, TH end on the face; ST, BL, GB begin at the eye and SP, KI, LV end on the chest. The positions of these points are:
Arm Yin (first point on chest)
Arm Yang (last point on face)
Leg Yang (first point near eye)
Leg Yin (last point on chest)
THE SUPERFICIAL COURSE OF THE CHANNELS
When learning this section, students should consult standard AP texts (see references 1, 1a, 3). Trace the pathways on your body, or that of a friend. Mark in the first and last points, and other "landmark" points.LU begins at LU01, in 1st intercostal space, travels down the arm to LU05 (on the radial side of the biceps tendon), to LU09 (in the depression on the radial side of the radial artery, at the tip of the transverse crease of the palmar surface of the wrist, to LU11 on the radial side of thumb-nail.
LI begins at LI01 on the radial side of the nail on the index finger. It travels up the finger to LI04 (at the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone, towards the thumb side (at the highest point of the muscle when the thumb and index finger are brought close together) to LI11 (at the lateral aspect of the elbow, half-way between the biceps tendon and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus), to LI15 (at the acromio-clavicular joint) to LI20 near the ala nasi.
ST begins at ST01, at the lower edge of the orbit, directly under the pupil of the eye. It runs down the face to the labial canthus (ST04), around to ST06 at the angle of the jaw. It receives a branch from the temple (ST08, Tou Wei). It goes to ST09 on the carotid artery to ST17 on the nipple (forbidden to moxa or needle!!), to ST25 (2 TSUN lateral to umbilicus), to ST36 (4 finger-breaths below patella, one finger breath lateral to anterior crest of tibia), to ST45 on the lateral side of the nail of toe 2.
SP begins at SP01 at the medial side of the nail on the big toe. It runs along the side of the foot to the ankle and up the leg to SP06 (3 TSUN above the tip of the medial malleolus of the tibia, just behind the posterior border of the tibia. SP06 is a most important point in AP. Its name (SanYinChiao) means "Three Yins Meeting" (the crossing point of the 3 Yin Channels). This point influences the functions of SP, KI, LV COSs and should be studied. The line then continues up to SP10 (2 TSUN above superior border of patella, at middle of the bulge of the vastus medialis). It then runs up the inside of the thigh to the groin to SP12 (lateral to femoral artery, 3 TSUN lateral to midpoint of upper border of pubic symphysis). From there, it travels up the abdomen to SP20 (in second intercostal space to 6 TSUN lateral to the sternum) and SP21 (in the 6th intercostal space, midway from axilla to free tip of rib 11).
HT begins at HT01 in the axilla, travels down the inner aspect of the arm to HT03 (between the medial end of the transverse cubital crease at the medial epicondyle of the humerus when the elbow is bent) to HT07 (on the palmar surface of the wrist at the posterior border of the pisiform bone at the wrist crease) to HT08 (on the heart line of the palm of the hand, where the flexed 4th and 5th fingers meet the palm) to HT09 on the radial side of the nailbed of finger 5.
SI begins at SI01 on the ulnar side of the nail on the little (5th) finger, travels up the ulnar side of the finger to SI03* (at the end of the transverse crease proximal to the 5th metacarpal-phalangeal joint when the hand is half-clenched). SI03 may also be found by clenching the fist. It is at the end of the "Heart Line" on the palm, where it meets the chopping edge of the fist. It goes to SI06 (flex elbow with palm placed on the sternum; SI06 is in the bony cleft on the radial aspect of the styloid process of the ulna), to SI08 (between the olecranon process of the ulna and the tip of the medial epicondyle of the humerus) to SI09 (1 TSUN above the upper tip of the posterior axillary fold). It then zig-zags over the scapular area, up the postero-lateral aspect of the neck to SI18 (in the depression below the lower border of the zygomatic bone, directly below the outer canthus of the eye), to SI19 between the ear tragus and the mandibular joint when the mouth is opened.
BL begins at BL01 at the inner canthus of the eye, runs upwards and backwards over the head about 1 TSUN lateral to the midline; it runs down the back of the head to BL10 (about 1.3 TSUN lateral to the midline, level with the space between vertebral spines C1-C2). Here the BL Channel splits into two lines, an inner and an outer line.
The inner BL line goes to BL11 (1.5 TSUN lateral to the midline, level with the lower edge of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra, half-way between midline of the spine and the medial border of the scapula). It continues down to BL30 (1.5 TSUN lateral to midline, level with the 4th sacral foramen. (BL13 to 28 are the Shu points- among the most important points in AP- and each one should be studied in detail). From BL30, the Channel runs upwards to BL31 (level with the 1st sacral foramen, midway between the posterior superior iliac spine and the midline) and passes down through BL32,33,34 at the level of 2nd, 3rd and 4th sacral foramina. Thus, BL27,28,29,30 (over the 4 sacral foramina) are level with BL31,32,33,34. Then the Channel passes down the back of the thigh to join the second BL line at BL40, (WeiZhong) in the middle of the popliteal crease.
The outer BL line leaves BL10 to join BL41 (FuFen, 3 TSUN lateral to midline level with the lower border of the spinous process of vertebra T2). This line continues downward 3 TSUN from the midline to BL52, level with BL23 (between L2-3). Between vertebrae T2 and L3 (BL12 to 23), each point on the outer line is paired with a point on the inner line; each pair of points has similar functions. These pairings are easy to remember: the code of the outer point = 29 + the code of the inner point, i.e. BL12 and 41 are paired, BL21 and 50 are paired and BL23 and 52 are paired:
Outer BL Points (IVAS BL40=WeiZhong, mid-popliteal crease) Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Vertebra - - - - - 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 1 2 2 4 Inner line - - - - - 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 28 30 Outer line 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 IVAS Outer No. = Inner No. + 29)
From BL52, the outer line passes back to BL53 (outside BL28, level with foramen S2), to BL54 (outside BL30 and 34, level with foramen S4). From BL54, the Channel passes straight down the back of the thigh to BL40 (WeiZhong), where it joins the first line. From here it passes down the back of the calf to BL57 (8 TSUN below BL40) and then curves outwards towards the lateral malleolus of the tibia to BL60 (between the lateral malleolus and the Achilles tendon. The Channel then passes along the lateral edge of the foot to the last point (BL67) at the outer angle of the nail on the little toe.
If you would learn only one Channel, choose the BL Channel!! It has points (Shu points, see later) for all the major organs, is involved in neck and back problems, sciatica, leg problems, reproductive problems and is most important in obstetric analgesia, dystocia etc.
KI begins at KI01, on the sole of the foot between the upper half of the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal-phalangeal joints. It runs up the medial aspect of the foot to KI03 (opposite BL60, i.e. between the Achilles tendon and the medial malleolus). From here it does a loop through KI04,5,6 in the ankle region and then climbs upwards to points KI07,8,9 on the inner side of the leg, to KI10 on the postero-internal thigh and then emerges above the pubis at KI11 (at the superior border of the pubic symphysis 0.5 TSUN lateral to the midline). From here it climbs parallel to the midline to KI21 (0.5 TSUN lateral to midline, level with CV14 (6 TSUN above the umbilicus). From KI21 the line passes to KI22 - KI27, running parallel to midline but 2 TSUN lateral to it. The last point (KI27) is 2 TSUN lateral to midline in hollow between the lower border of the clavicle and rib 1.
PC begins at PC01 in the 4th intercostal space, 1 TSUN lateral to the nipple. It passes down the anterior aspect of the arm to PC03 on the ulnar side of the biceps tendon of the elbow crease. It continues down the anterior surface of the forearm to PC06 (2 TSUN above the palmar wrist crease, between the flexor tendons) to PC08 (on the palm of the hand between 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones, where the fully flexed middle finger meets the palm) to the last point (PC09), at the midpoint of the tip of the middle (3rd) finger.
TH begins at TH01 at the nail of the 4th (ring) finger, towards the ulnar side. It climbs the back of the hand, to TH05 (2 TSUN above the dorsal wrist crease, between the radius and the ulna), to TH10 (1 TSUN behind and above the olecranon process of the ulna), to TH14 (between the acromion process of the scapula and the greater tubercle of the humerus), to TH17 (between the mastoid process and the angle of the mandible). It then curves behind the ear and ends at TH23 at the lateral tip of the eyebrow, on the lateral border of the orbit.
GB begins at GB01, 0.5 TSUN lateral to the outer canthus of the eye. It goes to GB12 behind the ear, then curves forward again to GB14 (one TSUN above the midpoint or the eyebrow). Then the Channel curves across the head, on a line with the pupil-midpoint of the eyebrow, to GB20 (in the depression between the acromion process and GV14 (between the spinous process of vertebrae C 7 and T 1) on the highest point of the shoulder muscles). From here, the line zig-zags down the lateral aspect of the thorax and abdomen to GB28 (anterior and interior to anterior-superior iliac spine) to GB30 (behind the great trochanter of the femur). From here it passes down the lateral aspect of the thigh and knee to GB34 (in the depression anterior and interior to the little head of the fibula, to GB40 (below and in front of the lateral malleolus of the tibia, to the last point (GB44) on the lateral angle of the nail of the 4th toe.
LV begins at LV01 at the lateral angle of the nail of the big toe, passes up to LV03 (between the upper heads of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones) to LV04 (1 TSUN antero-lateral to the medial malleolus). From here the line curves up the inner aspect of the leg to points LV07,8,9 in the region of the postero-medial aspect of the knee, to LV11 (on the femoral nerve, just lateral to the artery in the inguinal groove), to LV13 (at the free end of the 11th rib) to LV14 (directly below the nipple, in the 6th intercostal space.
CV begins at CV01, between the anus and the scrotum/vulva in the midline. It runs up the midline of the abdomen, through the umbilicus (CV08) to the tip of the xiphoid (CV15) to between the nipples (CV17), to the sternal notch (CV22), to end in the cleft between the chin and the lower lip (CV24).
GV begins at GV01 (between the tip of the coccyx and the anus, in the midline). It travels up the back, in the vertebral midline, through GV04 (between spinous processes of vertebrae L2-L3) to GV14 (between the spinous processes of vertebrae C7-T1) to GV26 (the SHOCK POINT, in the philtrum, 1/3 the distance from the nose to the upper lip), to GV28 (on the frenum between the upper lip and the upper gum).
Let us recall once again the number of points on each Channel:
| LU | LI | ST | SP | HT | SI | BL | KI | PC | TH | GB | LV | CV | GV |
| 11 | 20 | 36 | 21 | 09 | 19 | 67 | 27 | 09 | 23 | 44 | 14 | 24 | 28 |
Beginners need only learn in detail the position and function of only 1 or 2 points on each Channel. The exception is the BL Channel, where BL13-30 (Shu Points) should be studied in detail.
Later, as your knowledge increases, try to integrate the position of points in relation to each other. For instance, using the Beijing or Hong Kong or Shanghai charts (1, 1a, 3), study the position of the following points and mark them on your own body: