The Intersection of Ancient Technique and Modern Bioelectrical Technology

Finalizing my basic acupuncture studies in Beijing in 1982 was a privilege. I specifically sought out a venue free of the overlay of Western medical thought and limitation. My clinical teacher, Dr. Cheau, viewed healing through the eye of TCM. Point location is an art; she taught me to see with my hands, a mandatory skill. Becoming aware of the underlying structures allowed safe passage into a joint space, often near a nerve, vessel or bone – seeking the abundant qi yet not doing damage.

Imagine my shock to be told that many of my locations didn’t exist. This occurred when taking a continuing-education class using a microcurrent device. Initially focusing on two points, Heart 7 (Shenmen) and Lung 9 (Taiyuan), I did a deeper dive and discovered the “source of the shift.”

The Historical Divergence

The primary reason for the difference in location (distal vs. proximal) stems from the late 1980s and ‘90s push by the World Health Organization (WHO) to align acupuncture with Western orthopedic anatomy.¹

• Beijing 1982 / Traditional Instruction: At that time, the “distal crease” was the gold standard. It was taught that the point lies at the ulnar end of the distal transverse crease of the wrist. This was practical, easily visible and focused on the “joint line” where the hand meets the wrist. These locations were codified in the primary texts of the era, which emphasized the anatomical “hollows” of the joints.^2-4

While standardization was considered a necessary step for research and safety, it often prioritized bony landmarks over the energetic and bio-electrical “hollows” recognized by seasoned clinicians.

• The Modern “Standard” (WHO): Most modern Western institutions now define the point at the proximal border of the pisiform. Anatomically, the pisiform bone actually sits distal to the main wrist joint space. Therefore, to be “proximal to the pisiform,” you end up at the middle or proximal crease rather than the distal one.

Evolution of Safety and Tooling

Throughout the course of my practice, I have witnessed what most likely led to these standardized locations. Before the availability of sterile disposable needles, there was the misguided use of syringe needles – fine gauge yet sporting a blade at the tip. These would easily damage the periosteum of bone or cut nerves and vessels.

The classic “almond” tip of an acupuncture needle spreads tissue, not unlike a knitting needle passing through yarn or fabric. Furthermore, the advent of practitioners licensed in other modalities yet permitted to perform needle insertion (dry needling) required rigid guidelines for patient safety.

Bioelectrical Advantages of Traditional Location

With the use of microcurrent devices that do not penetrate the skin, traditional locations of points like Heart 7 and Lung 9 should be utilized due to:

1. Synovial Conductivity: The distal crease aligns with the radio-carpal and ulnocarpal joint spaces. Synovial fluid is a highly conductive medium.⁶ Placing a microcurrent probe here allows for deeper systemic resonance than placing it over the denser, more resistive bone or tendon proximal to the joint.⁵
2. Nerve and Vessel Access: At the distal crease, Shenmen (HT 7) provides a direct window to the ulnar nerve pathways, facilitating the calming of the sympathetic nervous system. Similarly, Taiyuan (LU 9) sits where the radial artery pulse is most superficial.
3. ATP Enhancement: Research indicates that microcurrent increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.⁶ By utilizing the traditional “hollow” of the distal crease, the practitioner ensures that this energy is delivered directly to the deep vascular and neural structures.

Takeaway: The Gate Reopened

We must remember that the characters for these points often include terms like men (gate) or yuan (source). A gate is not a wall (the bone); it is the space between the walls. By returning to the distal wrist crease as taught in the classical Beijing lineage, we marry the wisdom of the lineage with the precision of modern healing technology, entering the “gate” of bioelectrical healing.

Author's Note: This article is based on clinical observations and internship standards at the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing (1982).

References

1. A Proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature: Report of a WHO Scientific Group. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1991; and WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila, Philippines: WHO Western Pacific Regional Publications; 2008.
2. Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, et al. Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture. Beijing, China: Foreign Languages Press, 1980.
3. Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine (O'Connor J, Bensky D, trans-eds). Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text. Chicago, IL: Eastland Press, 1981.
4. Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. An Outline of Chinese Acupuncture. Peking, China: Foreign Languages Press, 1975.
5. Ahn AC, Grodzinsky AJ. Relevance of bioelectrical impedance analysis in acupuncture diagnostics. J Altern Complement Med, 2009;15(5):459-466.
6. Cheng N, Van Hoof H, Bockx E, et al. The effects of electric currents on ATP generation, protein synthesis, and membrane transport in rat skin. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1982;(171):264-272.