Ancient Shu points on the lower leg

Ancient Shu points on the lower leg: the meridians of the leg and foot

The lower leg is a particularly rich area in acupuncture. Six meridians run along the leg — three Yin and three Yang — and each carries its own series of Ancient Shu points. The points on the lower leg are used extremely frequently in clinical practice: they are accessible, effective and address a wide range of internal organs and disorders. A good understanding of the Ancient Shu points on the lower leg is indispensable for every acupuncturist.

The six leg meridians

Three Yin meridians run along the lower leg: the Liver meridian, the Spleen meridian and the Kidney meridian. They run along the medial (inner) side of the leg, from the foot upward toward the trunk. The three Yang meridians — the Stomach meridian, Gallbladder meridian and Bladder meridian — run along the lateral (outer) and posterior aspects of the leg, from the toe upward toward the hip and beyond.

The Ancient Shu points on the Yin meridians of the leg begin with the Wood element at the big toe and follow the Sheng cycle: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water. The Ancient Shu points on the Yang meridians begin with the Metal element and likewise follow the Sheng cycle: Metal → Water → Wood → Fire → Earth. This makes every point on every meridian unique in its elemental quality.

The lower He/Sea points: a special category

On the lower leg there are three special points known as the "lower He/Sea points" (Xia He Sea). These are additional He/Sea points for the Yang organs (Fu organs) of the upper burner, which have their "sea point" on the leg instead of on the arm. In practice, these points are particularly powerful for treating the corresponding Yang organs.

Stomach 37 (Shangjuxu) is the lower He/Sea point of the Large Intestine — the most effective point for Large Intestine disorders such as diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal cramps and dysentery. Bladder 39 (Weiyang) is the lower He/Sea point of the Triple Burner — used to balance the Triple Burner and regulate fluid metabolism. Stomach 39 (Xiajuxu) is the lower He/Sea point of the Small Intestine — used to tonify and harmonise the Small Intestine in absorption problems and food-related complaints.

The clinical richness of the leg points

In addition to the lower He/Sea points, the lower leg contains some of the most frequently used and most powerful points in all of acupuncture. Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao) — the crossing point of the three Yin meridians of the leg — is one of the most versatile points in practice: it nourishes Blood and Yin, regulates menstruation, promotes digestion and calms the spirit. Spleen 9 (Yinlingquan), the He/Sea point of the Spleen meridian, is the strongest point for resolving Dampness. Stomach 36 (Zusanli), the He/Sea point of the Stomach meridian, is the most powerful tonification point for the entire body. Liver 3 (Taichong), the Source point and Earth point of the Liver meridian, is the most frequently used point for Liver Qi stagnation. Kidney 3 (Taixi), the Source point of the Kidney meridian, is the anchor point for all Kidney-related treatments.