FIVE SHU (TRANSPORTING) POINTS: Introduction

The major function of the Five Shu acupoints is to communicate between inner and outer sides of the body for transporting Qi in the meridians and effectively activating Qi to treat the corresponding Zang-Fu organs. The Five Shu acupoints refer to the five specific acupoints categorized as Jing-well, Ying-spring, Shu-stream, Jing-river and He-sea, to which the Five Elements corresponding. Each of the twelve regular meridians contains a group of these acupoints; the five Zang organs have five Shu acupoints and the six Fu organs have six Shu acupoints. All of these sixty acupoints are located distal to the elbow and knee joints observed and organized by the ancient people who were used to inductive logic thinking approach in China, which is totally
different from the deductive approach in the West. This similarity centered approach serves as the foundation for the development of acupuncture and the TCM theories.