Ah-Shi Points

CORE DEFINITION

Ah-Shi Points are one of the three major categories of acupoints in acupuncture theory, also known as pressure points, Tianying points, or indefinite points. They have no fixed name or location, and are determined by tender points, pathological sites, or other reactive points as the sites for acupuncture and moxibustion. They are often located near the lesion, but can also be at a distance. They are not only used for treating pain and other conditions, but also reflect pathological conditions and aid in diagnosis. The term 'Ah-Shi Points' appears in the traditional Chinese medical text 'Qianjin Yaofang' (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold): 'When people travel as officials in Wu and Shu regions, they should moxibustion at two or three places on the body, not allowing the sores to heal, so that miasmatic diseases, warm malaria, and poisonous qi cannot affect them. Therefore, moxibustion is widely practiced in Wu and Shu.' There is a method of Ah-Shi: when a person has pain, press on the area; if it is the right spot, regardless of the acupoint, it becomes the painful point, and it is called Ah-Shi. Moxibustion and needling are effective, hence the name Ah-Shi Points. In plain terms, it means to press on the patient's body without regard to acupoints, and the spot where pressure alleviates or aggravates the condition is the Ah-Shi Point. Applying moxibustion there has therapeutic effects. The current understanding is that needling does not necessarily have to be at a fixed acupoint; if effective, it can be at a suitable place. These special tender points are called 'Ah-Shi Points'. However, in cases of acute strain, Ah-Shi Points may be forbidden for needling. For example, after mountain climbing, the Chengjin point may be painful, which is an Ah-Shi Point.