Source and network point combination

Also guest and host point combination Simultaneous needling of source points and network points. When both bowel and viscus an exterior-interior pair are diseased, the source of the channel of the one is combined with the network point of the channel associated with the other. The general rule is that the source point of the more severely or more chronically involved organ is coupled with the network point of the less involved organ. For example, severe panting with mild constipation can be treated by needling the source point of the lung, LU-9 (Great Abyss, 太渊 tài yuān), and the network point of the large intestine, LI-6 (Veering Passageway, 偏历 piān lì). The less involved channel is termed the guest, and the more involved channel is termed the host, so this method of treatment is sometimes called guest-host treatment. See the list below and point combination.

Examples of Source (S) and Network (N) Point Combination

Lung

• S. LU-9 (Great Abyss, 太渊 tài yuān)
• N. LI-16 (Great Bone, 巨骨 jù gǔ)
• Sore throat, shortness of breath, copious phlegm, sweating, heat in the hearts of the palms and soles, breast pain, lung channel shoulder pain.

Spleen

• S. SP-3 (Supreme White, 太白 tài bái)
• N. ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng)
• Stiff tongue, abdominal pain, heavy body, constipation, jaundice, spleen channel leg pain, malaria.

Stomach

• S. ST-42 (Surging Yáng, 冲阳 chōng yáng)
• N. SP-4 (Yellow Emperor, 公孙 gōng sūn)
• Nosebleed, facial numbness, stomach channel leg pain, malaria, abdominal distension, general weakness.

Heart

• S. HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén)
• N. SI-7 (Branch to the Correct, 支正 zhī zhèng)
• Heart pain, palpitation, dry mouth, yellow eyes, heart channel arm pain.

Small Intestine

• S. SI-4 (Wrist Bone, 腕骨 wàn gǔ)
• N. HT-5 (Connecting Lǐ, 通里 tōng lǐ)
• Pain and swelling under the chin, should pain, neck pain, deafness, small intestine channel arm pain.

Kidney

• S. KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī)
• N. BL-58 (Taking Flight, 飞扬 fēi yáng)
• Lassitude of spirit, poor appetite, poor visual acuity, aching lumbus and limp legs, gray facial complexion.

Bladder

• S. BL-64 (Capital Bone, 京骨 jīng gǔ)
• N. PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān)
• Eye pain, neck pain, back pain, lumbar and leg pain, epilepsy, nosebleed, prolapse of the rectum, malaria.

Triple Burner

• S. TB-4 (Yáng Pool, 阳池 yáng chí)
• N. PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān)
• Deafness, sore throat, conjunctivitis, shoulder and back pain, constipation, urinary block, enuresis.

Pericardium

Liver

• S. LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng)
• N. GB-37 (Bright Light, 光明 guāng míng)
• Painful swelling of the testicles, mounting qì (shàn qì) pain, fullness in the chest, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, enuresis, and urinary block.

Gallbladder

• S. GB-40 (Hill Ruins, 丘墟 qiū xū)
• N. LR-5 (Woodworm Canal, 蠡沟 lǐ gōu)
• Pain in the chest and rib-side, headache, eye pain, malaria, goiter, swollen lymph nodes.