Journal of Chinese Medicine • Number 78 • June 2005


Master Cui’s Four Flowers Points


19


Huanmen and the two horizontal points of the Four Flowers resemble yin lines, since they are bilateral. The two spinal points of the Four Flowers resemble yang lines, as they have only one component. In addition, they are located on the Governing (Du) vessel which is the most yang part of the channel system. Because hexagram 63 Already Completed has every line in its appropriate position12


, the image would be


a confirmation to many Ming dynasty doctors that the six points of the Four Flowers have the ability to put all aspects of the body in proper order. The image of fire and water communicating would also signify the interaction of Heart and Kidney or the balance of yin and yang.


Treatment Zhang suggests applying moxibustion to the six points on fire days based on a calculation of the Heavenly Stems. He also warns that within a hundred days after applying moxibustion the patient should be careful of sexual taxation and excessive thought or preoccupation. In addition, the patient should maintain a seasonally appropriate diet, keep a balance of cold and heat and nourish and protect himself. If the patient feels they have not recovered after


the sores have healed, the treatment can be repeated. Zhang states, “No one does not recover”. He adds that using up to 100 cones of moxibustion on the points lateral to the spine is especially beneficial, but warns that it is not appropriate to use a lot of moxibustion on the two points on the spine itself. On the spinal points he suggests using only 15 cones at a time since the patient may become fatigued if a lot of moxibustion is used. He also notes that after treating the six points of


the Four Flowers, moxibustion should be applied to Zusanli ST-36 to drain any fire that may have flared up from moxibustion on the upper body.


Discussion of the Four Flowers Why was this type of method used to locate points? During the Southern and Northern dynasties (420-581C.E.), Chen Yanzhi13


Kan (water) Li (fire)


_ _ ___ _ _ ___ _ _ ___


o o o


o o o


Suffering Gate point the Four Flowers


Hexagram 63 Already Completed


long as the directions are written so that a layman can understand. Zhang notes, “Cui Zhiti did not indicate point


names, but instead established the method to find the Four Flowers. He must have wanted it to be easy to explain to people, so he verified this method of point location for the spine and back”. Yang notes, “The ancients feared people did


not know how to find points. That is why they established this quick method”. He states that the Four Flowers are probably the same as Geshu BL-17 and Danshu BL-1915


, but notes that Master Cui only


called them the Four Flowers without naming them, thus implying that we cannot be sure that they are the same as these channel points. He also warns that the width of people’s mouths varies, so that, “no one who tries to figure it out by feeling the vertebrae for Geshu BL-17 and Danshu BL-19 is correct”.


“One must have a teacher before practising the technique of acupuncture, but even the ordinary person can apply moxibustion”.


Yang explains why these points are used to treat writes that


moxibustion can be used as a home remedy and that it is not necessary to be treated by a doctor. He states, “One must have a teacher before practising the technique of acupuncture, but even the ordinary person can apply moxibustion. One who has had a teacher explain the Classic14


can readily practise


acupuncture and moxibustion. However, one who has not had a teacher explain the texts can apply moxibustion according to diagrams and explanatory texts”. In other words, a person does not need to know detailed theory and surface anatomy or develop skilled hand techniques to practise moxibustion as


severe vacuity, indicating that Geshu BL-17 is the meeting point of blood and so treats blood disease. He adds, “Steaming bones and tidal fever are blood vacuity with excess fire. Thus we select these points in order to supplement it (blood). The Gall Bladder is the bowel of the Liver. The Liver is able to store blood. That is also why we select these points”. The Four Flowers have been used for more than


1,200 years to treat severe vacuity conditions. They may still be useful today in treating chronic degenerative diseases. We should, however, research which method of point location brings the best clinical results: the original method, the simplified method or the method which equates the Four Flowers with Geshu BL-17 and Danshu BL-19.


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