As a qualified acupuncturist, you would be thoroughly familiar with the locations of acupuncture points. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are 12 primary meridians, divided into three Yang meridians: Taiyang (Bladder and Small Intestine), Shaoyang (Gallbladder and Sanjiao), and Yangming (Stomach and Large Intestine), and three Yin meridians: Taiyin (Lung and Spleen), Shaoyin (Heart and Kidney), and Jueyin (Liver and Pericardium).
In addition, the Ren Mai and Du Mai are extraordinary vessels. Together with the twelve primary meridians, these fourteen meridians comprise a total of 361 classical points.
One of the most essential meridians I frequently use is the Ren Mai, particularly when treating patients with digestive disorders or emotional conditions. However, I recently experienced something truly remarkable while treating a patient with blood clots in the areas corresponding to the Spleen meridian.
A few weeks ago, a female patient presented with lymphoedema in her right leg and reported wearing a compression stocking for over two years. She has experienced recurrent blood clots in the right inguinal region, with no clearly identified cause. The pain in her swollen leg was severe, and on palpation, the swelling was predominantly located over the regions corresponding to SP-12 and SP-13.
Due to her condition, needling on the right leg was not appropriate because of the lymphoedema and the need to minimise the risk of infection. Therefore, needling was limited to the left leg if required. In such a condition, the focus is on reducing pain and swelling while supporting the circulation of qi and fluids. On her left leg, acupuncture can help alleviate discomfort and improve overall balance.
I applied Dao-qi on RN-10 (Xiawan) (1) - a meeting point with the Ren-mai of the Spleen Channel, along with other key points along the Ren Mai, to regulate qi, support the spleen and stomach, and promote fluid metabolism. Additional distal points on the left leg can be selected to support lymphatic flow and reduce stagnation, while avoiding the affected right leg to prevent any risk of infection or trauma.
After 30 minutes of treatment, upon removing the needle from RN-10 (Xiawan), dark-red blood (2) was released immediately. Remarkably, the patient reported significant relief in her right leg afterward. This case demonstrates how regulating the Ren Mai can effectively reduce swelling and improve blood stasis, particularly along the Spleen meridian.
It highlights the therapeutic potential of RN-10 on the Ren-mai to regulate qi, support the Spleen, and relieve pain and swelling. Targeting RN-10, along with other Ren-mai and distal points, improved circulation and reduced discomfort, even in a patient with lymphoedema and blood clots, emphasizing the value of careful, individualized acupuncture treatment.
References:
1) TCM Perspective: In TCM theory, stimulating points like RN‑10 and other Ren Mai points is traditionally thought to regulate qi, harmonize the middle jiao, and mobilize blood and fluids, which is consistent with the patterns you treated (blood stasis, qi stagnation, swelling).
2) In TCM theory: blood emerging from a point, especially dark, thick blood, may be interpreted as release of stagnated blood (blood stasis) and an indication that meridian blockage or excess is being addressed. : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_stasis?utm
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