of a reactive movement under the finger.
These points treat the following syndromes: headache, vertigo, syncope,
abdominal pains, gastric fullness, marked intumescence, acute energetic
accumulation... . Accumulation (Ji) with movement of the pain is curable; in
contrast, accumulation without pain is difficult to treat.”
EXPLANATIONS AND COMMENTARIES
I -Zhang Shi explains:
“ 1- At the head and thorax, the 12 channels manifest at Qi Jie, sites formed by the paths of conduction of the energy and blood leaving from the lower part (of the channel) toward the Jiao (peaks) of the upper part (of the channels).
2 - Chongmai, “sea” of channels, moistens the Xi Gu (valleys and little valleys: flesh spaces). Along with the Yangming, it unties with the Sun Gan (energetic capillaries and muscular fibers). Therefore,
_ the Yin and Yang channels, whose Yangming (St) is the head of the line, are all under the dependence of the Daimai (belt vessel) attached to the Dumai (GV).
_ blood and energy, via the path of the Chongmai, reach Qi Jie of the abdomen, that is to say, the point Qichong (St 30- other name Qi Jie), and gather at the level of the arteries situated to the left and right of the umbilicus.
According to Tian Dong Shu, the Chongmai, coming from the kidney organ, emits a vessel which descends to Qi Jie (St 30, other name Qichong), reaches the internal part of the groin, descends to the popliteal crease belonging to the Foot Taiyang (Bl). Via this route, the Chongmai unites with Chengshan (Bl 57) located above the malleoli, that is to say, at the calf.
This description concerns the Foot Shaoyin (Ki) which, with the Chongmai, manifests at the level of the Qi Jie of the leg.
3 - Shaoyin (Ki) and Yangming (St) are the sites of the start of the production of blood and energy. The obstruction of Qi Jie of the leg prevents the circulation of blood and energy of the Shaoyin (Ki) toward the top, hence headache and vertigo.
The obstruction of Qi Jie of the abdomen hinders the spreading of blood and energy, hence abdominal pain, gastric fullness ... .
Such are the phenomena know as Jue Ni (contrary afflux) of the energy of Shaoyin (Ki) and Yangming (St) whose treatment consists of utilizing the “Hao” (#7) type of needle.
71.
4 - In this paragraph, the syndrome of accumulation (Ji) is taken as an example to explain the exit of Ying-Blood outside the Jingluo at the level of Qi Jie in order to unite with Wei Qi (defensive energy) to affect a circulation “without end or beginning”.
The illnesses cited above all originate either from disturbance of the blood or disturbance of the energy, two essential ideas which must always be present in the mind of the physician.”
II - Ma Shi comments:
“This paragraph emphasizes the existence of Qi Jie, sites of stoppage of the energy which must be known to discern if one is to correctly practice acupuncture.
Jie is a path of stoppage and departing, because
_ the energy, directed toward the head, stops at the brain
_ the energy, directed toward the thorax, stops at the hypochondria and Bei Shu (back Shu)
_ the energy, directed toward the abdomen, stops at Bei Shu and at the anterior part of the body at the level of the Chongmai-Renmai (CV) and Foot Yangming (St) and at the level of the arteries located to the left and right of the umbilicus (that is to say, at the point Tianshu- St 25).
_ the energy circulating in the leg stops at Qi Jie, also named Qichong (St 30), belonging to the Foot Yangming (St), and at the point Chengshan (Bl 57), belonging to the Foot Taiyang (Bl), as the points located above and outside the malleoli.
At the time of needling these Si Jie (4 “Jie” zones noted above), it is advised to use the Hao type needle to treat headaches, vertigo, abdominal bloating, gastric fullness, acute accumulation“.
III - N.V.N.:
1 - “Qi Jie”, fundamental notion of the practice of acupuncture, merits being analyzed and delved into deeply according to contemporary thought.
“Qie Ji” designates the path of gathering of the energy, that is to say, the path of exit of Ying (nutritive) energy outside the channels at the ends in order to unite with the Wei (defensive) energy and spread into all levels of the body.
Each part of the body consists of its Qi Jie and therapy also understood from the appropriate methods for each case. Therefore,
_ in order to curb the illnesses caused by the energy of the head, the specific point of the brain is used, Baihui (GV 20).
_ in order to curb the illnesses caused by the energy of the thorax, the specific points located at the superior part of the ribcage (Mu points located on the thorax) and Bei Shu (back Shu) points located to the side of the spine between T7 and T2 are used.
_ in order to curb the illnesses caused by the energy of the abdomen, the Bei Shu (back Shu) points, located in the trajectory of the Foot Taiyang (Bl), and the points located at the arteries of the 2 sides of the umbilicus, Huanshu (Ki 16) and Tianshu (St 25), are used.
_ in order to curb the illnesses caused by the energy of the leg, the pointQichong (St 30), located at the internal side of the crural artery in the fold of the groin, and the point
Chengshan (Bl 57), located at the calf, are used.
2 - Interesting points by Zhang Jing Yue in this connection include:
“This paragraph concerns the areas of gathering of the energy (Qi Jie), while the preceding paragraphs speak on the Peak (Jiao) and Root (Ben) of the 12 channels.
The marrows belong to the brain whose most elevated place has the name “Qi Jie of the cranium”.
Here, the 2 sides of the thorax designate the areas belonging to the Foot Yangming (St) and Foot Shaoyin (Ki).
On the back, the energy circulating at the level of Bei Shu (back Shu) of the organs and bowels, located to the side of the spine between T2 andS2,,are the Qi Jie of the thorax and abdomen.
peri-umbilical arteries (Ex: Huangshu- Ki 16 and Tianshu- St 25).
At the calf, the Qi Jie are formed at the level of the point Chengshan (Bl 57) and at the level of the point Qichong (also named Qi Jie- St 30), site of gathering of the Chongmai and Foot Yangming (St).
• The points cited above treat illnesses of the paths of gathering of the energy (Qi Jie), among which one distinguishes acute accumulation and chronic accumulation.
The acute accumulation is without form and manifests by pains. This state indicates the presence of the energy; for this reason, the illness is easy to cure. In contrast, the chronic accumulation is indolent and always endowed with a form. It is the indicator of the absence of energy; the illness is very difficult to treat.”
3 - We present below a diagram of the Qi Jie of the leg and another at the level of the peri-umbilical arteries.
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Figure 3:
Qi Jie at the level of the lower limb: Qichong (St 30) and Chengshan (Bl 57).
Figure 4:
Qi Jie at the level of the peri-umbilical arteries: Huangshu (Ki 16) and Tianshu (St 25). no 74/75.