Understanding Points and Vectors

There is a wonderful feeling when you are in an airplane on your way home. The plane comes out of the clouds, and you look down out of the window and see your home city far below you. The buildings look like tiny little dots at first. Then, as you descend, they get bigger and bigger, until you can see the streets and the cars, and finally the sidewalks. There is also an altered sense of perception that occurs, so that the cars and people look larger-than-life when you get down near the ground level.

This is a lot like what goes on when learning how to palpate an acupuncture point well. In the beginning, the point is just a vague depression in the skin, and this is like seeing the city from high up in the air. As you develop your palpation skills, the geography of the point expands in your senses. Like coming down in the airplane, you begin to notice the streets, and then the cars, the sidewalks, and everything else. An acupuncture point is a small world underneath your fingers. Within each point there are several different spots that can be treated effectively with different techniques for different reasons.

This is the focus of the first part of the class. You will learn the physical and mental tools that will enable you to take your palpation skill to the next level and notice more about the points you treat. We will discuss what different palpatory findings mean, and when a point is appropriate for needling or when moxa treatment is better.

The second part of the class is on vectors. A vector is the angle of opening into an acupuncture point. Most points have multiple vectors present and connecting to different levels of depth in the meridian system. You will learn several methods for palpating vectors, and how to choose between multiple angles of treatment.

By the end of this class, you will have an appreciation of the different levels of palpation at your disposal, and the skills to choose between them for the best results in your clinic. You will also be able to find the exact treatment point for your treatment goals and for your client’s overall presentation. Like all the classes in The Art of Acupuncture, this material is not limited to any style of treatment. However you work in your clinic, you will find that the techniques taught here will improve your treatment efficacy, and increase your understanding and enjoyment of acupuncture.