Acupuncture: Major Points and Pathways

Chart Review by Steven Lavitan, DC, LAc

Title:

Acupuncture: Major Points and Pathways

Author:

AcupunctureCharts.com

Part #:

AC-1

Back in the 1970s, when my interest in acupuncture began, the only charts you could get were in Chinese and very unrealistic. The bodies were abstract recreations of ancient paintings. It was discouraging trying to learn the points when their names, anatomical locations and importance could not be identified.

Today, it is a pleasure to have the wonderful visual aids provided by this chart. This is a particularly aesthetic chart, and chock full of information, to boot. It is superimposed on an accurate anatomical background, so each point can be located in proper perspective. If you liked the drawings on the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) exam, you will love these charts. The meridians are in their Five Element colors, with the lighter shade being yang, and the darker shade yin. This is a subtle but powerful mnemonic device. In addition, crossing points, luo, source, xi cleft, Five-Element and horary are all well-marked.

Another aspect about the chart that rates discussion is that the complete pathways of each meridian within the body are fully visualized. By being able to image the energy flow, and then see how they appear on the body's outer surface, one can appreciate symptomatic patterns. This may be especially useful if one performs Japanese or meridian-based acupuncture.

This chart makes a nice commentary about the pure beauty of what those who practice acupuncture do every day, reminding ourselves and our patients how the energy flows. The chart rates a 9 only because it doesn't list the major extra points, such as yin tang, tai yin, etc. Strictly along a utilitarian approach, it would be nice to have those extra points smiling at me from the wall, too.

Dr. Lavitan's Rating:

9 out of 10