Library

Huangdi asked: I have heard of "Miu Ci" (Counter-point Acupuncture), but I do not yet understand its meaning. What is Miu Ci?

Qibo replied: When pathogenic factors invade the body, they first lodge in the skin and hair (mao pi). If they remain there without being expelled, they enter the Sun vessels (Sun mai, minute collateral branches). If they still remain, they enter the Luo vessels (Luo mai, collaterals). If they continue to remain, they enter the Jing vessels (Jing mai, primary meridians). At this stage, the pathogens connect internally with the Zang organs (Zang fu, solid organs) and scatter into the Chang organs (Chang fu, hollow organs). Both Yin and Yang are affected, leading to injury of the five Zang organs. This is the sequence by which pathogens enter from the skin and hair and reach the depth of the five Zang organs. In such cases, treatment should focus on the primary meridians.

However, if pathogens lodge in the skin and hair, enter the Sun collaterals (Sun luo), and remain without being expelled, causing blockage and obstruction, they cannot enter the primary meridians. Instead, they overflow into the large collaterals (Da luo), generating unusual diseases. When pathogens lodge in the large collaterals, left-sided pathogens flow to the right, and right-sided pathogens flow to the left. They interfere with the meridians above and below, left and right, and distribute to the four extremities. Their movement is unpredictable, they do not enter the primary meridians or Shu points (Shu xu, transport points), and thus this method is called "Miu Ci" (Counter-point Acupuncture).

Huangdi said: I wish to learn about Miu Ci. Why does one treat the left side for right-sided disease and the right side for left-sided disease? How does it differ from "Ju Ci" (Major-point Acupuncture)?

Qibo said: When pathogens lodge in the primary meridians, if the left side is excessive, the right side becomes diseased; if the right side is excessive, the left side becomes diseased. There are also cases of shifting pain, where pain on the left persists while the pulse on the right shows pathology first. In such cases, one must use "Ju Ci," ensuring the needle reaches the primary meridian, not the collateral vessels. Therefore, when collaterals are diseased, the pain location differs from that of the primary meridians, hence the name "Miu Ci."

Huangdi said: I wish to know how Miu Ci is performed specifically. What are the principles for selecting points?

Qibo said: When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, sudden heart pain, acute distension, and fullness/supporting sensation in the chest and hypochondrium occur. If there are no accumulations, prick the blood vessels anterior to Ran Gu (Rangu, KI2) until bleeding occurs. The illness will resolve after approximately the time it takes to eat a meal. If it does not resolve, apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. For newly onset diseases, five days are sufficient for recovery.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, throat obstruction (Hou bi), tongue retraction, dry mouth, vexation, pain along the lateral aspect of the arm, and inability to raise the hand to the head occur. Prick the nails of the middle and ring fingers, at a distance from the tip equivalent to the width of a leek leaf, on each side. For robust individuals, relief is immediate; for the elderly, it takes a moment. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. Newly onset diseases resolve within a few days.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, sudden hernia and severe pain occur. Prick the area where the nail meets the flesh on the big toe, on each side. Relief is immediate for men and takes a moment for women. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, headache, neck stiffness, and shoulder pain occur. Prick the area where the nail meets the flesh on the little toe, on each side. Relief is immediate. If not, prick three cun below the lateral malleolus, applying the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. Relief occurs after approximately the time it takes to eat a meal.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, chest fullness, wheezing, supporting sensation in the chest, and heat in the chest occur. Prick the nails of the index and middle fingers, at a distance from the tip equivalent to the width of a leek leaf, on each side. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. Relief occurs after approximately the time it takes to eat a meal.

When pathogens lodge between the arm and palm, causing inability to flex, prick the posterior aspect of the ankle. First, press with the finger to locate the painful point, then prick. The number of needles should be determined by the waxing and waning of the moon: one needle on the first day of the lunar cycle, two on the second, fifteen on the fifteenth; fourteen on the sixteenth, decreasing gradually thereafter.

When pathogens lodge in the Foot Yangqiao Vessel, eye pain starting from the inner canthus occurs. Prick half a cun below the lateral malleolus, two needles on each side, treating the left for the right and the right for the left. Relief occurs after walking the distance covered in ten li.

If a person suffers a fall, causing stagnant evil blood to remain internally, leading to abdominal fullness and inability to urinate or defecate, administer purgative medicines first. This injury affects the Jueyin meridians above and the Shaoyin collaterals below. Prick the blood vessels anterior to Ran Gu (Rangu, KI2) below the medial malleolus until bleeding occurs, and prick the arterial pulse on the dorsum of the foot. If not resolved, prick the hair tuft on the big toe (Dadun, LR1) on each side until bleeding occurs. Relief is immediate. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. For symptoms of sadness, fright, and unhappiness, use the same needling method.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, deafness and intermittent hearing loss occur. Prick the nails of the index and middle fingers, at a distance from the tip equivalent to the width of a leek leaf, on each side. Hearing is restored immediately. If not, prick the area where the nail meets the flesh on the middle finger. Hearing is restored immediately. However, intermittent hearing loss should not be treated with needling. For sensations of wind in the ears, apply the same needling method, treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

For Bi syndrome (Bi zheng, obstruction syndrome) characterized by wandering pain without fixed locations, prick the painful areas between the muscle layers. The number of needles is determined by the lunar cycle. The practitioner must adjust the number of needles according to the flourishing or declining state of Qi. Exceeding the prescribed number depletes Qi, while falling short fails to expel pathogens. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. Stop when the disease resolves; if not, repeat as prescribed. One needle on the first day of the lunar cycle, two on the second, increasing gradually; fifteen on the fifteenth, fourteen on the sixteenth, decreasing gradually.

When pathogens lodge in the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, nasal congestion, epistaxis, and coldness in the upper teeth occur. Prick the area where the nail meets the flesh on the second and third toes, on each side. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, hypochondriac pain, dyspnea, cough with sweating occur. Prick the area where the nail meets the flesh on the second and third toes, on each side. Dyspnea resolves immediately, and sweating stops immediately. For cough, keep warm with clothing and consume warm food and drinks; resolution occurs within one day. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left. The disease resolves immediately. If not, repeat as prescribed.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, sore throat, inability to swallow food, spontaneous anger, and rebellious Qi ascending to Fen Shang (upper epigastrium) occur. Prick the central vessels of the sole of the foot, three times on each side, totaling six pricks. Relief is immediate. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

For swelling in the throat, inability to swallow saliva, or inability to expectorate saliva, perform Miu Ci on Ran Gu (Rangu, KI2) anteriorly until bleeding occurs. Relief is immediate. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, lower back pain radiating to the lower abdomen and hip, with inability to lie flat and breathe deeply, occurs. Prick the gap in the sacrococcygeal region, above the two gluteal muscles, which is Yaoshu (Yaoshu, BL23). The number of needles is determined by the lunar cycle. Relief is immediate upon needle withdrawal. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, spasms, back stiffness, and pain radiating to the hypochondrium occur. Needling should start from the neck, counting down the vertebrae along the spine. Press firmly; where tenderness is felt under the hand, prick laterally three times. Relief is immediate.

When pathogens lodge in the collateral of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, pain in the Shu joint (hip joint) with inability to lift the thigh occurs. Insert a filiform needle into the Shu joint. For cold patterns, retain the needle for a long time. The number of needles is determined by the lunar cycle. Relief is immediate.

In treating various meridians, if the pathway is unaffected, use Miu Ci. For deafness, first prick the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; if ineffective, prick the vessel emerging before the ear. For toothache, prick the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; if ineffective, prick the vessel entering the teeth. Relief is immediate.

When pathogens lodge between the five Zang organs, causing pulling pain in the meridians that comes and goes, observe the condition and perform Miu Ci on the nails of the hands and feet. Observe the vessels and release blood. Prick every other day. If one session is ineffective, five sessions will cure the disease.

For Miu transmission causing pulling pain in the upper teeth and cold pain in the lips, observe the dorsal hand vessels for blood stasis and remove it. Prick one needle on the second toe of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, and one needle each on the index and middle fingers of the hand. Relief is immediate. Apply the principle of treating the left for the right and the right for the left.

When pathogens lodge in the collaterals of the Hand and Foot Shaoyin, Taiyin, and Foot Yangming meridians, these five collaterals converge in the ear and ascend to connect with the left corner of the head. If all five collaterals are exhausted, the pulses move throughout the body while the form remains unconscious, resembling a corpse, known as "Shi Jue" (Corpse-like Syncope). Prick the medial side of the big toe nail, at a distance from the tip equivalent to the width of a leek leaf. Then prick Yong Quan (Yongquan, KI1). Then prick one needle each on the middle toe nail. Then prick the medial side of the big toe of the hand, at a distance from the tip equivalent to the width of a leek leaf. Then prick one needle each at the end of the Heart Pericardium Meridian and the sharp bone (pisiform) of the Heart Meridian. Relief is immediate. If not, blow air into both ears using a bamboo tube. Burn one square cun of hair from the left corner of the head, mix with a cup of fine wine, and drink it. If unable to drink, force-feed it. Relief is immediate.

The general principles of needling are: first observe the meridians, palpate along their course, assess deficiency and excess, and regulate accordingly. For irregularities in the meridians, use Jing Ci (Meridian Acupuncture). For pain without meridian pathology, use Miu Ci. Simultaneously observe the skin regions for blood vessels; if present, prick them all to release blood. This constitutes the methodology of Miu Ci.