The Ancient Shu points are five points on each of the twelve main channels. These points are located in the extremities, from the elbow to the fingers in the case of the arms and from the knee to the toes in the legs. In addition to local action they have action at a distance and/or at a global level. They are associated with the five elements.

1. Jing points, which in other transcriptions are also called Ting or Well points.
2. Rong points, also known as Iong or Spring points.
3. Shu points, also known as Iu or Stream points.
4. King points or River points.
5. He points, also called Ho or Sea points.

It is also interesting to know the Ben points.

Use of the Ancient Shu points

The Ancient Shu points can be used in several ways.

To treat the symptoms associated with the point. For example:

• Subcostal fullness with Jing points.
• Excess heat/fire with Rong points.
• Heaviness and joint pain with Shu points.
• Cough, asthma with King points.
• Diarrhea and Qi rebellion with He points.

According to the five element theory, the Ancient Shu points can be used according to their element to tonify or disperse:

• To tonify in case of deficiency: use the mother point in tonification.
• To disperse in case of excess: use the child point in dispersion.

For example: the Kidney channel is Water element. The mother of water is Metal. To tonify the Kidney channel, the point KI-7 which is Metal element can be used. To disperse we would use KI-1 because it is Wood element.

See Tonification and dispersion techniques and Mother-child relationship among the elements.

According to the seasons:

• If we are in winter (Water element) we can use Metal points to tonify. (Metal is the mother of water)
• In autumn (Metal season) we would use Earth points.