Acupuncture points: helping our skeleton dance

Acupuncture points are sited at intervals along the meridian pathways, each forming a point of access to what lies below the surface, eventually reaching down to the organs deep below.  When, then, we choose a specific acupuncture point along a meridian pathway, we should be aware of the network of relationships which the needle inserted into the surface of the skin is stirring into life. 

 

It is always good to remind ourselves of why meridians pass over our anatomy in the way that they do, and what information their physical position in the landscape of the body can give us about their possible function and importance.  In other words, why is an acupuncture point where it is?   One of the reasons I started thinking about this is when I became aware that very important points lay at anatomically highly significant places in our body's framework.  The first example which led me to this discovery was when I looked at the anatomical description of one of the most important points of all, Heart 1, Utmost Source. This started me looking carefully at the structure of the body as a way of helping me in my choice of acupuncture points.  

 

I realised that Heart 1, which lies at the intersection between the abdomen and the arm, is at the precise anatomical position which enables us to lift our arms up above our heads, appropriately, for such a point, to the heavens above.  It can therefore be seen as forming a link between these two separate anatomical structures, thereby helping maintain an uninterrupted flow of energy up and down the body.  There are equally significant places where a link between different parts of the body is required to enable good energy to find its way past potential anatomical gaps between different parts of our skeleton, such as between the wrists and elbows on the hands or the ankles and knees on the feet.  These are places where meridians have to pass their energy from one structure to another, and the smooth flow of energy might be impeded by conflicting movements between the two, such as the hand and the wrist not moving in tandem.  It is therefore no coincidence that important points lie at places where there is a potential gap between one part of the body's bony structure and another, and a meridian's energy requires some particular boost to bridge this gap, for example through a source point at the wrist.  

 

If we are unsure about our point selection for a specific treatment, therefore, we can help ourselves by bearing all this in mind, and reminding ourselves that point locations are not arbitrary, but have a specific purpose.  Points are placed at significant locations along meridians to help the officials pass their energy as smoothly as possible up and down over anatomical areas which could potentially block this energy's progress. 

 

I'm reminded here of the song:

… Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones.
Doin' the skeleton dance.
The foot bone's connected to the leg bone.
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone.
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone.
Doin' the skeleton dance.

 

I like to think that it is the siting of acupuncture points at key places where one bone is joined to the next that helps "our skeleton dance" so energetically, not only physically but also mentally and spiritually.