Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1 –

Point Explanations III

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The following post is an excerpt from《Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 1》 [经穴解] translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur. It explicates the origin of point names from a new perspective and viewpoint.

Stomach
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Twenty-Fourth Point of the Stomach Channel
Huá Ròu Mén – Slippery Flesh Gate (ST-24)
胃經第 二十四穴滑肉門
注：此穴與中行水分穴平直，胃中所腐之水榖，將由此而轉入小腸，小腸爲受盛之官，如胃中腐之不化，則下入小腸，必不能使糟粕入大腸，汁水入膀胱，如無門以阻之，而俟其腐化，
This point is level with Shuǐ Fēn (REN-9) horizontally on the midline. It is the where the putrefied water and grain from the stomach enter the small intestine. The small intestine holds the office of receiving and holding. If [the supposedly] putrefied [water and grain] fail to be transformed in the stomach and descend to enter the small intestine, then there will be no dregs entering the large intestine nor fluid entering the bladder. It is as though there is no gate to obstruct it and gives it time to putrefy and transform.
則入胃即入小腸，入小腸即入大腸，爲洞泄矣。滑肉者，言不可滯也；門者，又言不可速也，即闌之義也。
As such, when [water and grain] immediately enter the small intestine after just having entered the stomach, or when they immediately enter the large intestine after just having entered the small intestine, this is the throughflux diarrhoea. For Huá Ròu (Slippery Flesh), it indicates that it cannot be stagnant; for Mén (Gate), it indicates that it cannot be [passed through] swiftly; this is precisely the meaning of a barrier.

Twenty-Fifth Point of the Stomach Channel
Tiān Shū – Celestial Pivot (ST-25)
胃經第二十五穴天樞
注：樞者，所以司起閉，分司上下之稱也。此穴在臍之旁，而上下既分，身之前後俯仰者，此穴亦主之，故曰天樞，又曰大腸之募。
Explanation: regarding Shū (Pivot), it is the name of that which controls the opening and closing, and takes charge of the ascending and descending. This point is located beside the umbilicus, and moreover it divides the upper and lower [body]; when the body bends forwards and backwards, it is this point that governs it; therefore, it is called Tiān Shū (Celestial Pivot). It is also the collecting point of the large intestine.
臍下乃大腸紆曲之所，募者，結也，乃大腸紆曲所結處也，所治大腸之病居多。
Beneath the umbilicus is the place where the large intestine winds; regarding the collecting [point], it is where it binds; thus, it is the location where the winding of large intestine is bound, [therefore] what it treats are mostly diseases of the large intestine.

Thirtieth Point of the Stomach Channel
Qì Chōng –Qì of Chōng Vessel (ST-30)
胃經第三十穴氣衝
注：本經之穴在腹者，至此穴而盡。名氣衝者何？蓋衝爲經脈之海，乃血海也。其脈與任脈皆起於小腹之内胞中，其浮而外者，乃見於足陽明之氣衝穴，行足陽明、足少陰二經之間，循腹上至横骨，挾臍左右各五分而上行，
Explanation: for points of this channel located on the abdomen, they reach this point and terminate. Why is it named Qì Chōng (Qì of Chōng Vessel)? Because the chōng [vessel] is the sea of the channels and vessels, and it is the sea of blood. This vessel and the rèn vessel together rise from the womb within the lower abdomen. That which [of the two vessels] floats and moves outwards can be observed at Qì Chōng (Qì of Chōng Vessel) of the foot yángmíng. Travelling between the channels of the foot yángmíng and foot shàoyīn, [the chōng vessel] follows the abdomen and ascends to reach Héng Gǔ (KI-11), where it clasps the umbilicus at 5 fēn to the sides and ascends.

Thirty-Seventh Point of the Stomach Channel
Shàng Lián – Upper Ridge (ST-37)
胃經第三十七穴上廉
注：此穴上與大腸會，大腸有病治此穴。穴本胃經，而治大腸者何？蓋胃之爲腑，下與大腸相通。
Explanation: the point meets with the large intestine above; if the large intestine has diseases, then treat with this point. This point is on the stomach channel, how does it treat the large intestine? Because the stomach is a fǔ-bowel, and it connects below with the large intestine.
既胃之病責三里，大腸之病責上廉，亦取其上下相通之義焉。穴名上廉者，對下廉而言也。廉者，隅也。穴在膝下骨之隅，故曰廉。
As Sān Lǐ (ST-36) is sought for diseases of stomach and Shàng Lián (Upper Ridge) is sought for diseases of large intestine, this also takes from the meaning that the above (stomach) and below (large intestine) are mutually connected. This point is named Shàng Lián (Upper Ridge) as a counterpart to Xià Lián (Lower Ridge, ST-39). Lián (Ridge) is a border. The point is located below the knee on the border of the bone; therefore, it is called Lián (Ridge).

Xià Lián – Lower Ridge (ST-39)
胃經第三十九穴下廉
注：小腸在胃之下，大腸在小腸之下，則治大腸之上廉者應在下，治小腸之下廉者應在上，然脊上大腸腧亦在上，小腸腧亦在下。乃以肺在上，心在下之位次爲上下，而不以大小腸之上下爲上下也。此穴主泄胃中之熱，與氣街、三里、上廉同。
Explanation: the small intestine is located below the stomach, and the large intestine is located below the small intestine; consequently, Shàng Lián (ST-37) that treats the large intestine should be located below, and Xià Lián (Lower Ridge) that treats the small intestine should be located above; yet, on the spine, Dà Cháng Shù (BL-25) is also located above, and Xiǎo Cháng Shù (BL-27) is also located below. Due to the location of the lung being above and the heart being below, the positions [of these points] are determined [by this]; regardless of the [physical] locations of the small intestine above and large intestine below. This point governs the draining of the heat within the stomach, with a similar therapeutic effect to that of Qì Chōng (ST-30), Sān Lǐ (ST-36), and Xià Jù Xū (ST-39).

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Post-Scriptum: The book is available on amazon.com under the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/Explanations-Channels-Points-Yue-Hanzhen/dp/1703778715
PPS: Vol. 2 will be released next year.
PPPS: Pictures are from wellcomecollection.org and Michael Brown’s book .