• During use of fire (moxa) to disperse, blow on the fire to help it go out; then
on the field, replace it with another fire (moxa) which must also rapidly go out.”
EXPLANATIONS AND COMMENTARIES
I - Zhang Shi explains:
“1 - The Shu points of the 5 organs and 6 bowels are all found in the dorso-lumbar region and Huangdi’s question concerns only the Shu points of the 5 organs because:
_ the bowel and organ constitute the male/female system
_ the study of the 5 Movements of the Earth is largely sufficient. 55.
2 - The vertebral column is the site of passage of the Dumai (GV). All the dorsal Shu points are bilateral and are found 1.5 cun aside from the Dumai (GV), that is to say, from the posterior midline of the body (that is to say, 3 cun between the 2 bilateral points).
Therefore:
_ Dazhu (Bl 11) is found 1.5 cun apart from the 1st vertebra _ Feishu (Bl 13) is found 1.5 cun apart from the 3rd vertebra _ Xinshu (Bl 15) is found 1,5 cun apart from the 5th vertebra _ Geshu (Bl 17) is found 1.5 cun apart from the 7th vertebra _ Ganshu (Bl 18) is found 1.5 cun apart from the 9th vertebra _ Pishu (Bl 20) is found 1.5 cun apart from the 11th vertebra
_ Shenshu (Bl 23) is found 1.5 cun apart from the 14th (2nd lumbar) vertebra.
3 - “Relief in the interior during pressure of the finger at the level of the intercostal space” denotes the existence of communication between the Taiyang (Bl) and Dumai (GV ). This is why, regarding the Shu points of the 5 organs, one reaches first the point Dazhu (Bl 11) because it is found at the end of the great bone located at the nucha, that is to say, at the 1st vertebra belonging to the Dumai (GV). (1)
4 - “One questions about the 5 organs and one reaches Geshu (Bl 17; Shu of the diaphragm) located 1.5 cun apart from the 7th vertebra” because the energy of the 5 organs is propelled by the diaphragmatic
movements. This is why there is a saying according to which “the small heart (Xiao Xin) lives in the interior, to the side of the 7th vertebra”.
In general, every attack of the diaphragm causes a serious internal pathology whose cure is only apparent; death surely follows at the end of one year.
5 - The Shu points of the 5 organs are all on the Foot Taiyang because the bladder is a Water-Bowel and the 5 Movements of Earth are produced by the Water of Heaven.
6 - Pressure of the finger performed on the Taiyang channel provokes a reaction at the level of the Dumai (GV) because “Water-Cold” of the Taiyang (Bl) and that of the Dumai (GV) unify all the Yang channels of the body and because Yin and Yang, Water and Fire, communicate.
7 - Moxabustion is recommended because it has the property of activating the production of the energy of the Organ-Yin.
Acupuncture is advised against because it injures: _ the energy of the heart; death is immediate
_ the energy of the spleen; death follows in 5 days 56.
_ the energy of the kidney; death follows in 7 days _ the energy of the lung; death follows in 9 days.
Here, it is a question of the energy located at the Shu points of the back of the organs and not of a deep effect of the organ by the needle stick.
8 - To use fire (moxa) to tonify is to apply the principle according to which one maintains Water by Fire. To use fire (moxa) to disperse is to obey the principle according to which one obtains Fire from Water to revive the Yin energy of the organ.
To blow on the fire (moxa) is to wish to direct the energy toward the exterior. 9 - Regarding Water and Fire, Chu Shi has described:
“_ I-Heaven creates Water _ II-Earth creates Fire.
This Water and this Fire are the 2 components, Yin and Yang, of the First Principle (Tai-Yi) which comes from building up. The Human Being receives these 2 energies,
1. This explanation is not very precise. See below.
Water and Fire of Yin and Yang, which become transformed into the 5 Movements to construct the bodily form. This is why the Shu points of the back of the 5 organs all have their “root” (Ben) at the Taiyang (Bl = Water) and respond to the Dumai (GV = Sea of Yang Channels = Water).”
II - N.V.N.:
This chapter involves the location of the points Dazhu (Bl 11) and Geshu (Bl 17) and the dorsal Shu points (Bei Shu) of the 5 organs located on the back.
a - “Moxabustion is indicated and acupuncture is advised against.” It concerns advice given to novice physicians because deep needling the dorsal region can injure the lung and heart and cause serious accidents. This does not mean to say that acupuncture performed on the back is strictly forbidden as proportionately less of this classic (Lingshu) and the Suwen had developed in several chapters the methods of needling practiced in this region.
From Chapter 20 of the Lingshu (“The Five Perverse”), Paragraph 1, Volume I:
“It is necessary to needle... the point apart from the 3rd dorsal vertebra. Needling this point is confirmed by a sensation of relief during pressure of the fingers.”
From Chapter 22 of the Lingshu (“Yin Madnesses and Yang Madnesses”), Paragraph 18, Volume II: “It is necessary to needle the points... at the spot where the cough responds to pressure of the hand and the Shu points of the back (Bei Shu) at the spot where the patient feels a relief upon pressure of the fingers.”
From Chapter 55 of the Suwen (“Complementary Study on the Chapters of the Depth of Needling”), Paragraph 1, Volume II:
“In the chronic affliction of the 5 organs, needling must approach the organs at the level of the Shu points of the back (Bei Shu)...”.
57...
b - Effects of moxabustion. In the case of non-cure of some illnesses treated by acupuncture, moxabustion proves to be more effective and safer, particularly in the case of:
_ chronic diarrhea of “Yin Cold” etiology _ “Humidity-Phlegm”
_ afflux of cold
_ evolutive polyarthritis (Wei Bi) _ “False Heat”... .
In a word, the essential action of moxabustion is to make the Yang return and stop the escaping of the essential energy, hence the theory acccording to which “moxabustion tonifies emptiness.”
c - Tonic action of moxabustion. This chapter 51 of the Lingshu stresses not only the importance of the tonifying action, but also that of the dispersant action of moxabustion. As a result, the use of moxabustion must be adapted to the form the disease takes.
Therefore, for example: 58.
_ in tonsillitis and epistaxis, moxas are applied to the point Shaoshang (Lu 11)...
_ in grippe of “Wind-Cold” origin, moxas are applied to the points Fengchi (GB 20), Fengmen (Bl 12) Dazhui (GV 14)...
_ in the disease “Yang-Liver” (hepatitis), moxas are applied to the point Yongquan (Ki 1).
These illnesses make up part of the group of “fullness”, “heat” (fever) group. As a result, the theory according to which “moxabustion is only used for tonification” does not consider the true domains of moxabustion.
Figure 1:
Points Dazhu (Bl 11) and Geshu (Bl 17) and the back Shu points of the 5 organs.
59.