In many years' clinical practice, I used blood-letting method of “Twelve Well-points" to treat emergencies as coma, syncope, acute infantile convulsion, wind-stroke syndrome, hysteria, epilepsy, etc. and have achieved immediate results .

“Twelve Well-points" are referred to bilateral Shaoshang (LU 11), ShangYang (LI 1), Zhongchong (PC 9), Guanchong (TE 1), Shaochong (HT 9) and Shaozhe (SI 1) which belong to the Three-Yin and Three-Yang Meridians of the Hand and are located at the finger tips. The 6 well-points of the Yang meridians belong to metal and are the beginning points of the Three-Yang Meridians of Hand; while the other 6 well-points of the Yin-meridians belong to wood and are the ending points of the Three-Yin Meridians of Hand.

1. Indications of “Twelve Well-points": The indications of the “Twelve Well- points" are acute febrile diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, wind-stroke syndrome, syncope, acute infantile convulsion, manic and depressive psychosis, etc.

2. Functions of “Twelve Well-points": The “Twelve Well-points" can function in eliminating heat, resolving phlegm, restoring consciousness and causing resuscitation. It is recorded in the classic book Miraculous Pivot that the psychic diseases are related to the five Zang-organs, so, the well-points are often used when the focus is located in the viscera. It also says that hematopathy is related to the heart, thus, blood-letting can eliminate pathogenic heat and cause resuscitation. Therefore, pricking for bleeding, twirling-reducing o r twirling-pricking of the well-points can be used to treat mental disorder, excess type of wind-stroke syndrome, acute infantile convulsion resulting from attack o f pericardium by heat, heart disturbed by phlegm-fire or mental confusion due to phlegm, syncope due to high fever, etc.

3. Operative Methods

After routine sterilization of the “Twelve Well-points" with 75% alcohol, hold a sterilized three-edge needle to prick these well-points rapidly, then squeeze the local point forcefully to let a few drops of blood out.

4. Clinical Application

When the patient falls into sudden mental changes, loss of consciousness or mental disorder, “Twelve Well-points" are taken to induce resuscitation. 1) Accumulation of phlegm-heat in the lung and heart confused by phlegm: In case of invasion of pericardium by pathogenic factors, it is treated by ventilating the lung and resolving phlegm, clearing away pathogenic heat from the heart to cause resuscitation, the abovementioned well-points are used in combination with Chize (LU 5), Shenmen (HT 7) and Daling (PC 7) which are punctured and stimulated with reducing method. 2) Attack of the pericardium by pathogenic summer-heat: In ca se of heatstroke due to accumulation of pathogenic heat to block Qi-f low, it is treated by clearing away pathogenic heat from the heart to cause resuscitation, restoring the consciousness. The well-points are selected in combination with reducing Shenmen (HT 7) and pricking Quze (PC 3) to let a bit blood out. 3) Emergency of wind-stroke: In case of excess syndrome of stroke, it is treated by clearing away heat, inducing resuscitation and waking up the patient fro m unconsciousness, the well-points are punctured in combination with needling-reducing Yongquan (KI 1) and Hegu (LI 4). 4) Interior heat-syndrome with exopathy: In case of acute infantile convulsion due to high fever and wind stirring inside, it is treated by clearing away heat and toxic materials, eliminating pathogenic heat from the heart, calming the liver to stop the wind and by using well-points combined with needling-reducing Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3).

5. Typical Cases

Mr Wang, aged 58 years, a farmer, suddenly fell into coma, loss of consciousness, flush complexion, lockjaw, deviation of the eyes, rigidity of both h ands, rattling sound in the throat due to phlegm, full and taunt pulse. Differentiation of syndromes: Heart stirred by phlegm-fire, excess type of wind-stroke syndrome. Therapeutic principles: eliminating heat, resolving phlegm, causing resuscitation and restoring consciousness. Acupoint selection: “Twelve Well-points" were pricked to let a bit blood out; Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) were punctured and stimulated with reducing method (with the needles retained for 10 m in). After treatment, the patient restored his consciousness immediately, accompanied with light deviation of the mouth and eyes, weakness of the upper and lower limbs on the left side. Thereafter, acupoints on the face and limbs were punctured continuously. Half a month later, he returned to normal.

A baby named Xu, male, aged 2 and a half years, came from Pengchang Township, experienced high fever, clonic convulsion, opisthotonos, superduction, lockjaw, muscular spas m of the four limbs and loss of consciousness. Differentiation of syndromes: acute infantile convulsion due to excessive interior heat, exopathy and wind stirring inside. Therapeutic principles: dispelling wind and removing heat, calming the endopathic wind and relieving convulsion and spasm. Acupoint selection: “Twelve Well-points" were pricked to let a bit blood out, combined with puncturing and stimulating Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3) and Jiexi (ST 41) with reducing method. After treatment, the baby restored his consciousness immediately. Half an hour later, his fever abated and he spoke and laughed as usual.

6. Comments

The effects of the “Twelve Well-points" in causing resuscitation, clearing a way heat from the heart and tranquilizing, ventilating the lung and regulating Yin and Yang are derived mainly from the combined application of the Three Yin and Three Yang Meridians of the Hand. Shaoshang (LU 11) and Shangyang (LI 1) serve to ventilate the lung, remove heat from the throat, regulating the Wei-Qi to relieve the exterior syndrome and reduce fever. Zhongchong (PC 9) can function in clearing away heart-fire and accumulated heat of the pericardium, tranquilizing, inducing resuscitation and restoring consciousness. Guanchong (TE 1) can clear away the pathogenic fire of the upper-jiao, remove the accumulated heat in the Shaoyang Meridian. Shaochong (HT 9) is used to clear away heart-fire, tranquilize and regulate heart-Qi. Shaozhe (SI 1) serves to remove heart-fire, easing mental anxiety and eliminate accumulation of heat in the Taiyang Meridian. The aforementioned acupoints are only suitable for recuperating depleted Yang, rescuing the patient from collapse rather than for prostration (or deficiency) syndrome due t o sudden exhaustion of Yang of emergence or due to exhaustion of Qi from chronic disease because of excessive weakness of the primordial Qi. Therefore, the “Twelve Well-points" should be used according to differentiation of syndromes. Otherwise, erroneous application of these acupoints will bring the patient with unfavorable influence and even miss the opportunity for emergency treatment because of delay.

By Duan Gongbao, Xiantao etc.