The 13 Ghost Acupuncture Points 👻
‘Tis the season for all things spooky and fall! Even traditional Chinese medicine has acupuncture points to get you in the spirit, the 13 ghost points. The ghost points are part of an esoteric tradition developed in the 6th century by Dr. Sun Si Miao to treat conditions attributed to demonic possession that appear as mania, seizures, confusion, and night terrors. These points were used to exorcize the ghosts within and help the patient ground themselves and relax.
It is important to note that in modern day, we as a society have a much greater and deeper scientific understanding of psychological wellness than they did in the Tang dynasty. What could be seen as demons or ghosts haunting a body back in the day, are often more seen as chemical imbalances in the brain paired with psychological stress today. So even though using these points in practice today as an acupuncturist is useful, it does not indicate any possessions or ghosts within the body. Moreover, these points just have a strong calming and self awareness effect on the body grouped together, no matter who you are or what the cause may be. Now, let’s get to the points.
Lung 11 (Ghost Faith): Found on the thumb near the nail bed, this point is very useful in a breakup of any kind that left you angry and grieving. Also, in clinical practice for sore throat.
Large Intestine 11 (Ghost Leg): Located at the tail end of the crease on your elbow when flexed at a 90 degree angle, this point is used when someone feels high levels of anger, sometimes accompanied with heat. It is also great for reducing fever and cooling hot flashes.
Stomach 6 (Ghost Bed): Located on the jaw line, where the masseter muscle is most prominent when clenching your teeth. This point is great for not only TMJ, but PTSD.
Spleen 1 (Ghost Fortress): Located on corner of the nail bed on the big toe, this point is great for dream disturbed sleep.
Bladder 62 (Ghost Path): Found below the lateral malleolus (outside ankle bone), it is used in musculoskeletal conditions resulting in back and neck pain. This point is also used energetically for feeling overwhelmed from “carrying the world on your shoulders”.
Pericardium 7 (Ghost Heart): This point can be found on the center of the inside of your wrist, in between the two tendons. It is used for chest pain and metaphorically for a broken heart of any kind.
Pericardium 8 (Ghost Cave): Located at the center of your palm and where your middle finger rests when you make a fist, this point is clearing heat in the heart, or paranoia & schizophrenia.
Ren 1 (Ghost Store): Located on the perineum, this point is not often used clinically. Although in ancient times it was used for sexual health in men and women both physically and mentally.
Ren 24 (Ghost Market): Located below the lower lip in the center of the metholabial groove, this facial point is used in aesthetics for facial puffiness and smile lines. In ancient times, it was also said to be used for dark thoughts/depression accompanied with never smiling.
Du 16 (Ghost Pillow): Found on the back of the head, centered above the posterior hairline, this point is used for neck pain and stiffness, alone with feeling “stuck” in ones own life.
Du 23 (Ghost Hall): Located on the front of the head, centered above the anterior hairline. This point is great for conditions of the head, anywhere from a local headache to dementia.
Du 26 (Ghost Palace): This point can be found on the face, centered between your upper lip and nose. In ancient times, this point was used both for resuscitation from loss of consciousness and also deep rooted intergenerational trauma.
Extra point “Jīn Jīn, Yù Yè” (Ghost Seal): Not commonly used due to location, this point pair can be found under the tongue on either side of the frenulum. When it is used clinically, it is usually for pain and swelling of the tongue or aphasia. Energetically, it can be used to connect with ones self, specifically when you are having trouble speaking your truth.
While all of these points may seem a little “out-there” in modern day practice, the strength of these points is they connect the patient to whatever grounds them, whether in faith or in the cosmos, so they can show up to every day life centered and calm.
Happy Halloween! 🎃
