😵 Reviving Consciousness

In this article we're talking about unconsciousness.

(Remember in Points class when we would talk about how REN-1could revive someone from drowning? Who do you think was the first person to try that? Who was like, "Oh no, this person is drowning! Let me try sticking a needle in their taint...")

More specifically, let's talk about Jing-Well points and when they're actually used to restore consciousness...

Jing-Well Points and Reviving Consciousness

In first-semester acupuncture points class, one of the first things we learn is the point categories.

And when we talk about the 5 Shu-Transport Points, one of things we mention about Jing-Well points is that they have an action of restoring consciousness.

So after some discussion about how you shouldn't stick needles in people without consent, students always begin asking other questions: what situations would you use this in? Which of the 12 Jing-Well points should you use? Does it actually work?

Well, here's a little more context...

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Excess vs. Deficiency

Something that's a bit difficult to explain to first-semester students is that most conditions can be divided into different types based on their cause. And a basic way to divide them up is into categories of "excess" and "deficiency."

This includes loss of consciousness.

For example, if a person faints due to a failure of primal qi to ascend to the head (such as with overexertion or grief), this would be a deficiency type.

But if a person faints because of too much qi rising to the head or chest (such as with a fit of anger), that would be an excess type.

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Examples from Herbology

In the case of herbal medicine, the distinction is a little more clear.

For example, in Herbology class we have a category called Aromatic Substance that Open the Orifices. These are piercingly aromatic herbs that open the Heart orifices (or sensory orifices) to revive consciousness.

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However, due to their scattering nature, they are only used for excess conditionswhere an excess pathogen (such as heat or phlegm) is blocking the sensory orifices.

These are also called "closed conditions" or "block patterns" because the orifices are being blocked. Typically, the body is rigid or tense, and the jaw is clenched closed. (Examples would be things like stroke, severe febrile disease, or poisoning.)

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Contrasting that is "open conditions" or "abandonment patterns." Here, qi or yang is abandoning the body. The body is not tense, the limbs are cold, and the mouth is open (may occur after severe vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating).

In these situations, you would not use the aromatic herbs. Instead, you would use warming and tonifying herbs like Ren Shen, Fu Zi, and Gan Jiang to rescue devastated qi/yang.

So it's important to know the difference.

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Jing-Well Points

The nature of Jing-Well points is that they can quickly clear excess pathogens (especially when bled).

Maciocia writes:

So the ability of Jing-Well points to revive consciousness is related to their ability to quickly expel pathogens. This means that they are most often used for excess patterns of loss of consciousness.

A common example of this is windstroke. For LI-1, Deadman writes:

Basically what I'm trying to say is, if your patient skips breakfast and then faints during an acupuncture treatment, you would probably be unlikely to use Jing-Well points to revive them.

So what points would you use?

The Song of Nine Needles

The Glorious Anthology of Acupuncture and Moxibustion has a chapter titled, "The Song of Nine Needles for Returning the Yang". It listed nine points for treating yang collapse (characterized by loss of consciousness, cold limbs, purple lips, etc.):

• LI-4, ST-36, SP-6, KI-1, KI-3, PC-8, GB-30, DU-15, REN-12

So this would be more like an "open syndrome". Notice that most of the points are tonifying.

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The Gao Wu Command Points

Another common option is DU-26.

Originally, Gao Wu had only four command points. But later commentators added two more, and one of them was DU-26 for restoring consciousness.

DU-26 can be used for any type of fainting or loss of consciousness (including needle shock). For example, for dizziness after needling, the Ode of the Golden Needlerecommends needling DU-26 and ST-36.

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Example Point Prescriptions

For syncope (sudden fainting), Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion divides it into two categories.

For deficiency conditions characterized by feeble breathing with mouth agape, spontaneous sweating, cold limbs, and a deep, thin pulse:

• DU-26, DU-20, PC-6, REN-6, ST-36

For excess conditions characterized by coarse breathing, clenched jaw, rigid limbs, and a deep excess pulse:

• DU-26, LI-4, PC-9, PC-8, LV-3, KI-1

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So notice that DU-26 is used for both excess and deficiency, but Jing-Well points are more for excess conditions.

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For a "tense syndrome" type of windstroke (falling down in a fit with loss of consciousness, tightly closed hands and clenched jaw, coarse breathing, and a wiry, forceful pulse), CAM recommends:

• DU-20, DU-26, ST-40, LV-3, KI-1, 12 Jing-Well points on both hands

It also says you can prick to bleed the Jing-Well points.

So this is an example of using Jing-Well points for an excess condition.

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In the case of fainting or dizziness after needling, CAM recommends to needle or press hard with the fingernail:

• DU-26, PC-9, DU-25, PC-6

So here's an example of using a Jing-Well point (PC-9) in a more deficiency-type situation. Because the Pericardium is closely related to the Heart, it is especially suitable for reviving consciousness.

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DU-25 vs DU-26

As we said before, DU-26 was added to Gao Wu's list of command points because it is so effective at restoring consciousness.

However, some people prefer DU-25 on the tip of the nose.

Deadman writes:

I wonder how they researched that...

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So what about you? Have you ever revived someone's consciousness using acupuncture? What do you like to do when your patient feels faint and dizzy after treatment?