PALPATION OF FRONT-MU, BACK-SHU, YUAN-SOURCE POINTS

Palpation of acupuncture points is aimed primarily at checking for tenderness: if a point is very tender, even on superficial pressure, it indicates a Full condition of that channel or local stagnation. If pressure on the point relieves a particular pain, it indicates an Empty condition of that channel; and if pressure of the point initially relieves a particular pain but then causes a discomfort, it indicates a condition of mixed Deficiency and Excess.

Any acupuncture point may be used diagnostically and, indeed, Ah Shi points may be used as well. However, some points have a particular diagnostic significance: the Front-Collecting (Mu) points, the Back-Transporting (Shu) points and the Source (Yuan) points.