There are many methods of locating acupuncture points. Each point has its most convenient method and for some points, two or more methods may be applied with equal ease. The more commonly used methods are
1. Anatomical Landmarks Prominent anatomical markings of the body surface are made to serve as a basis for locating points. These include body landmarks felt or seen on the surface, the sense organs, the Þyebrows, ear corners, hairline, joint creases, the nipples and the umbilicus.
2. Finger Measurements In this method the body inch or "cun" is taken as the standard measurement. hen an acupuncture point is situated some distance away from the anatomical andmarks, its position can be defined only by stating the distance from such landmarks.
3. Proportional measurements This method takes as its basis that in an average person the various parts of the pody are generally in relative proportion to each other.
Head and neck area:
i. midpoints of anterior and posterior hairline- 12 cun
ii. anterior hairline and the eyebrow line - 3 cun
iii midpoint of posterior hairline and the spinous process of 7th vertebra - 3 cun
iv. lateral corners of anterior hairline ⁃ 9 cun
v. Tips of the mastoid process - 9 cun
Chest and Abdomen area:
i. the two nipples ⁃ 8 cun
ii. Two ribs ⁃ 1 cun
iii Inferior margin of the sternum and the umbilicus ⁃ 8 cun
iv. the umbilicus and the superior border of the pubic symphysis - 5 cun
Back of the trunk :
i. The medial margins of the sacro ⁃ iliac joints - 3 cun
Upper limb:
i. Anterior and Posterior axillary fold and the elbow crease ⁃ 9 cun
ii. Elbow crease and the wrist crease ⁃ 12 cun (measured diagonally on the fore arm)
Lower limb:
i. the greater trochanter of the femur and the middle of the patella ⁃ 19 cun
ii. the middle of the patella and the tip of the lateral malleolus ⁃ 16 cun.
Acupuncture masters calculate this cun measurement according to the patient finger width.
