Acupuncture point

Abbreviations: point; acupoint. A place on the body ' s surface where qì and blood of the channels and network vessels gather or pass. Through the channels and network vessels, points are connected to other parts of the body and notably the bowels and viscera, whose state of health they can reflect. Various stimuli such as needling, moxibustion, massage, acupressure, and electroacupuncture can be applied at points to regulate internal functions. A distinction is made between channel point, nonchannel point, and ouch point. See also point selection and point combination for use of points.

Etymology

Chinese: 穴 xué, cave, hole; 位 wèi, position; 道 dào, way, tract; 腧 shù、俞 shù、输 shū are all explained as 输, transport; 孔 kǒng, hole. The Chinese xuè reflects the notion that acupuncture points are usually depressions or crevices between bones, sinews, etc.; this notion is not properly conveyed by the English word point.