Acupuncture points are those anatomical points stimulated during the practice of acupuncture which, when so stimulated, cause changes to occur in other parts of the body. The acupuncture points affecting the head, for instance, are situated on the dorsum of the hand between the first and second metacarpals and, according to the results of a recent Italian study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, patients who underwent acupuncture treatment experienced fewer migraines than those who were treated with conventional migraine drugs. There are a variety of ways to stimulate acupuncture points, the most well known of which is penetration of the skin by means of small metal needles.

The Cardinal Points of Acupuncture

Cardinal acupuncture points are those points on the body which, if treated using acupuncture techniques, would affect a certain bodily area or system, bodily organ or medical condition. Migraines, osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain are just a few examples of the types of conditions exhibited by patients who seek acupuncture treatment and several highly specific charts have been developed that detail exactly which point on the body should be stimulated to treat which condition. Acupuncture points are found in such areas as the foot, the hand, the head and the abdomen.

Specific Cardinal Points For Specific Disorders

Disorders that can be treated through the stimulation of the cardinal acupuncture points range from memory, mental and cerebral disorders to blood sugar disorders (including diabetes) to bone marrow disorders. A specific example of a type of disorder and its corresponding acupuncture point is obesity, which is treated through stimulation of the meeting point of the upper and middle third of the philtrum (the groove on the upper lip).

Specific Cardinal Points for Specific Areas

Specific areas like the face and head, neck, shoulders and arms all have specific acupuncture points in other parts of the body as do the yin and yang organs and general bodily systems like the respiratory system and the nervous system. Certain acupuncture points also interact with certain anatomical areas to improve general health by increasing energy and helping people to master excess energy. A specific example of an acupuncture point that governs a bodily system is the depression slightly inferior and anterior to the head of the fibula which works with muscles and tendons.

Types of Acupuncture Charts

There are several slightly different charts showing the placement of various acupuncture points according to the different acupuncture systems and these include the Korean (Koryo) Hand Acupuncture Chart and the Chinese Auriculotherapy Chart. There are also charts that represent acupuncture points according to what functions the points fulfill, like the Alarm Points Chart and the Five Elements Chart.