By Li Ding
the book: "Acupuncture, Meridian Theory and Acupuncture Points"
The Xi (cleft) Points are the places where the qi of the meridian is deeply converged.
Each of the 12 regular meridians has a Xi (cleft) Point on the extremity, as do the
Yinwei, Yangwei, Yinqiao and Yangqiao Meridians, 16 in all. Xi (cleft) Points are located
below the elbows and knees except for Liangqiu (St.34) which is superior to the knee. They
constitute another group of important points apart from the Five-shu Points.
records of Xi (cleft) Points date back to Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (A Classic of Acupuncture and
Moxibustion). Xi (cleft) Points are used for treating acute disorders of their related
internal organs as well as of the areas supplied by the meridians. Needling these points
can regulate the circulation of qi and blood in the diseased areas.
|The Sixteen Xi (Cleft) Points
||hemorrhoid bleeding, hemoptysis, shortness of breath
||toothache, common cold, hemorrhoids
||cardiac pain, insomnia and mental mania
||blurring of vision and tinnitus
||infantile convulsions and systrema
||dysmenorrhea, prolapse of uterus
||cardiac pain, palpitation, hypochondriac pain
||pain in the heart area, enteritis
||mania with emotional excitement and insanity with emotional depression
|Foot-Zhongdu ( Liv.6)
||hernia, uterine bleeding
||acute diarrhea. sciatica, numbness, lumbar pain
||orchialgia. amenorrhea, night sweating
||chest pain, numbness of the lower extremities
|| relieving pathogenic qi, hernia and beriberi
They also have the function to alleviate acute pain of the internal organs. For example,
puncturing Liangqiu (St.34) for acute gastric pain; Kongzui (Lu.6) for acute bronchial
hemoptysis; Shuiquan (K.5) for dysmenorrhea; Ximen (P.4) for cardiac pain and furuncle;
Foot-Linqi (Liv.6) for swelling and pain of the testis, etc. The Xi (cleft) Points can
also be used to treat acute sprain, points being selected from meridians passing through
the injured area.
Clinically, combination of the Xi (cleft) Points and the Eight
Influential Points can often enhance the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture treatment,
e.g. Liangqiu (St.34) and Zhongwan (Ren 12) for severe epigastric pain; Kongzui (Lu.6) and
Shanzhong (Ren 17) for cough and hiccup with difficult breathing.
Observation of Xi (cleft) Points can sometimes be of help in diagnosing acute
disorders. Often there is a reactive spot at a Xi (cleft) Point when a particular organ or
meridian is affected, e.g. tenderness can be felt at Ximen (P.4) in case of acute
pleurisy; or at Liangqiu (St.34) in case of acute mastitis.