WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific RegionAcupuncture has been practiced for more than 2500 years in the Western Pacific region and has become a global therapeutic method in recent decades. However, it was reported that acupuncturists differed by up to 25% in the acupuncture points they used, raising doubts and uncertainty regarding the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment, as well as causing difficulties in the fields of acupuncture research and education. Member States therefore increasingly began to demand standardization in acupuncture point locations. Responding to this request, the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office initiated a project to reach consensus on acupuncture point locations and thus convened 11 serial meetings resulting in these guidelines. This Standard acupuncture point locations in the Western Pacific Region stipulates the methodology for locating acupuncture points on the surface of the human body, as well as the locations of 361 acupuncture points. The Standard is applicable for teaching, research, clinical service, publication, and academic exchanges involving acupuncture. |
Common terms and phrases
1.5 B-cun lateral acupuncture point locations artery axillary fold B-cun inferior B-cun proximal B-cun superior biceps brachii biceps brachii muscle border between red calcaneal tendon centre cubital crease depression inferior directly superior dorsal wrist crease extensor F-cun fifth forearm fossa hairline head horizontal line humerus inferior border intercostal space intersection junction Kim Yong-suk lateral aspect lateral malleolus line connecting locating acupuncture points longus tendon lower abdomen medial aspect medial border medial malleolus metatarsal bone metatarsophalangeal joint midpoint Note Pacific Regional Office palmar wrist crease palmaris longus patella popliteal crease posterior aspect posterior median line posterior sacral foramen prominence radial red and white REPUBLIC OF KOREA rior sacral foramen sacral hiatus scapula spinous process STANDARD OF ACUPUNCTURE sternocleidomastoid muscle third and lower thoracic region thoracic vertebra tibia ulna ulnar umbilicus upper abdomen upper back region vertical line Western Pacific Regional white flesh