Cleft point

Any of a group of points located one on each of the twelve channels and four of the eight extraordinary vessels (the yīn springing, yáng springing, yīn linking, and yáng linking vessels) at the site of a small cleft or indentation at which qì and blood accumulate.

Application: The cleft can reflect repletion or vacuity in the channel on which they are located. Sharp or intense pain on pressure, or redness and swelling indicate repletion, whereas dull or mild pain or a depression at the point indicates vacuity. Cleft points are commonly employed in the treatment of either stubborn or acute ailments involving the organs and channels. The effectiveness of cleft points in relieving pain is evidenced by their frequent use in acupuncture anesthesia.

Combinations: The cleft points are often used in combination with the meeting points. For example, the cleft point of the lung, LU-6 (Collection Hole, 孔最 kǒng zuì), is combined with the meeting point of the blood, BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), to treat coughing of blood, whereas the cleft point of the stomach, ST-34 (Beam Hill, 梁丘 liáng qiū), is combined with the meeting point of the bowels, CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), to treat acute stomach pain.

See also point selection.

Etymology

Chin 郄 (same as 郤 or 隙) xì, cleft or fissure.