New England Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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A New Annotation of Huatuojiaji Points
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By Aimee De Barbieri, Lic. Ac., Oriental Cultural Institute
Throughout history many acupuncturists have spent much time
studying ancient texts as a means for better understanding various approaches within the scope ofacupuncture. Through this study acupuncturists have popularized the use of many points including those of Dr. F{ua
Tuo commonly referred to as the Huatuojiaji. This raises the question:
how can we understand their use today in the framework of a westem
medical model & how can this ancient approach be further understood outside of the concepts provided to us from a TCM model?
Dr. Hua Tuo is a famous doctor of the Three Warring Kingdom
period of the Han Dynasty (AD. 200). He is the first one in Chinese medical history to develop and use anesthesia during surgical procedures. Doctor Hua Tuo wrote many books most of which were lost. What remains
today is discussed in our TCM books referring to the Huatojiaji points'
These points are located along the spine 0.5 cun bilateral to the spinal column, between the spinous processes, fromCl to Sl. Cl to C7 indicates
cervical problems. C4 to T1 are for treating the upper extremities. C3 to
T9 are for treating the internal and external thoracic. T5 to T12 are for
treatment of upper abdominal organ problems. Ll to L5 treat the pelvic
organs. L2 to S1 are for treatment of the pelvic organs and lower extremities. Altogether there are 24 pairs of points. Yet, some books list only 17
pairs excluding the cervical vertebrae. Throughout history many experts
have tried to understand the Huatojiaji points. Today we can use the study
of anatomy and physiology to help explain and annotate these Huatuo
points.
We know from western sources and the study of anatomy &
physiology that within the autonomic neryous system there is a sympathetic & parasympathetic(p.379)
In TCM we use the back shu points which are similar yet different
concepfually than those of the Huatojiaji points. The shu points are energy
source points pertaining to a particular organ. In our system using Huatojiaji points the organs have blockage points that are related to organs which
are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The spinal cord descends
from the brain and is connected to the medulla oblongata. All the neryes
which stem from the spinal cord innervate their corresponding organs.
The information gained from modem science about the nervous system has
enabled us to develop a healing system that applies this information. Our
system of healing considers the importance of the amount of voltage of
bioelectricity in the brain. The voltage of bioelectricity becomes static if
the spinal column has a high resistance. This causes the current ofbioelectricity to be low, and the nervous system to have difficulty in passing or
receiving a signal from an organ. If we want healthy organ function, then
we must keep the spinal cord and nervous system functioning in a low resistance state. Therapeutically our aim is to open the blockages in the
body that cause such resistance.
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In our systerr we use the Huatuo points by applying pressure to
them for diagnostic purposes. This technique in China is called
An. It involves the application of pressure to a point in order to
detect a problem with relationship to that point. This same technique can be used in reverse when a patient comes to your office
with a western diagnosis involving a certain organ or area of the
body. We can test these points along the spine to reconfirm and
connect fur1her with the western diagnosis. By using these points
along the spine we combine westem and eastern knowledge enhance the treatment benefits to the patient. This helps us get to
the root cause of many serious illnesses. We find that this approach rs replicable in the treatment of many cases brought by
patients with western medical diagnoses. At times we can use this
blockage theory when we have an undiagnosable case. We can do
this using our eyes to see and our fingers to feel where the blockage is along the spine. Often there is an area of puffiness along
side ofthe spine, or the color ofthe skin is darker than another
area, or perhaps a concentration ofmoles is found in one area
along the spine. When we press this area using our thumb the patient will feel pain, where as they may not feel it eisewhere along
the spine. This blockage indicates high resistance in a nerve
which is often at the root cause of the patient's symptoms or problematic organ function.
When finding a blockage at a Huatuo point, take note
and after stimulating this point compare the results of this treatment at the time of future treatments. If the treatment yields good
results the blockage will become less painful when we press it the
future. If there is a knot in the blockage area, compare the size of
this knot from treatment to treatment. lf the knot is smaller then it
means that the blockage is beginning to open.
Checking the Huatojiaji points for diagnosis is based on
the theory that there is a blockage of chi in the body. As we know
from Chinese medicine these blockages are related to the development of illness and disease. An illness can cause a blockage, and
a blockage can cause an illness. The blockage philosophy is combined with the Autonomic nervous system. The Autonomic nervous system is divided into the Sympathetic and Para-sympathetic
nervous system. The sympathetic nerves control the activity of
the body, and determine Fight-or-Fiight response. The sympathetic nervous system can be called Yang Chi. The Para sympathetic nerve is called the rest-repose system and can be understood
as Yin Chi. When the blockage causes a syrnpathetic nerve problem, the organ will lose its active function, meaning a Yang deficiency with a Yin excess. When the Para sympathetic nerve is
blocked, it rvill cause a Yin deficiency and Yang excess, as the
organ is overactive and cannot be rested. In using the Huatuo diagnosis we do not need to use the Yin and Yang philosophy, we
use the autonomic nervous system. But these two systems in our
philosophy are the same, because as described above the sympathetic nerve controls the activity represented by Yang Chi, and the
parasympathetic nerve controls inactivity represented by the Yin
Chi. In using the Huafuo points we are paying attention to the
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blockage.
In conclusion, this system has been found to be very effective in the treatment of many difficult iilnesses. We find that
by accessing these points we are better able as acupuncturists and
healers to treat people with any condition. When we find an ouch
point that corresponds to the root cause ofa said illness, just
about any kind of stimulation has been found to improve the condition of the patient. Why not try acupuncture needles, Tui Na
massage, cupping, magnetic therapy or energy healing? This system is also found to be replicable, so it can be used in a similar
manner for anyone who presents with a similar diagnosis. For
example, if we have an adult or child with allergies to food, dust,
or whatever, just using a stimulating technique at T7 , T2, and T3
can much improve these patient's conditions. At the same time
we may also treat a patient with a rare form of leukemia by also
stimulating these points to improve the condition of the blood.
The application of this system is all encompassing and as acupuncturists we can readily use these points to continue our work
and witness the miracles of healing.
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