Extraordinary Momentum: Master Tung’s Four HorsesCombination

By Susan Johnson

Introduction

Four Horses consists of three points on each thigh: 88.17,88.18, and 88.19, Middle, Upper and Lower Four Horses, totaling six points.This point pattern is wonderfully effective, easy to locate, and veryversatile. Tung’s Points practitioners highly value these points, as they treata wide and diverse array of disorders. I love these points and use them morefrequently than any other point pattern in my practice. In this paper, Ipresent the point locations and indications, and provide a detailed explanationof how the Four Horses point pattern works when combined with certain otherimportant points in Master Tung’s system.

One could argue that Four Horses earned its name because itmay include an extra point; however, the name actually reflects the fact thatthese are among the most powerful points in the entire body. A carriage drawnby four horses moves very quickly, with extraordinary momentum. A one-horse carriageride through the countryside on a lazy Sunday afternoon would not be a fittingmetaphor for the strong and lasting effects of these amazing points.

Point Location

The Four Horses points are located using GB31 Fengshi (WindMarket), or Tung’s 88.25 Middle Nine Miles, as a reference point. Therefore,the location of GB31 Fengshi determines the location of Four Horses. Yet thereare differences of opinion about the location of GB31. Most practitionersbelieve GB31 is nine cun above the popliteal crease, on the gallbladdermeridian. However, some books situate this point seven cun above the crease. Irecommend that you choose a distance nine cun from the popliteal crease tolocate GB31. Some find it where the tip of the middle finger touches the legwhen the arm is extended alongside the body. Although that method may beaccurate for certain patients, it is inaccurate for people with very long arms,or for those who are lying on a table with a bolster under their legs, causinga bend in the knees. In addition, this method locates the point two cun, orthree fingers, proximal to where it is found when measuring up from the knee.For these reasons, I count up from the top of the patella, rather than locatingGB31 from the tip of the middle finger or from the popliteal crease. I place abolster under the patient’s legs and measure eight cun above the top of thepatella, because the popliteal crease falls approximately mid-patella, or onecun distal to a point opposite the uppermost edge of the patella.

Based on your method of locating GB31, Four Horses mayinclude an additional proximal point if you are measuring up from the patella,or an additional distal point if you are beginning from the tip of the middlefinger. Dr. Young Wei-Chieh, our leading expert on Tung’s Acupuncture, whenasked which locations are accurate, has said, “It doesn’t matter. They allwork.” He is correct; whether you find them proximally or distally, the pointsall work beautifully. Fortunately, GB31 is very easy to palpate, and when youhave found it, both you and the patient know, because the point is often quitesensitive and full of energy.

Considering the above explanation, the simplest and mostdirect way to locate Middle Four Horses is as follows: from the top of thepatella, measure eight cun (or four fingers twice, plus three fingers), thenfollow the lateral edge of the patella up to reach 88.17, the primary point.This should be three cun to three and a half cun anterior to GB31. Beconsistent with point location on both sides of the body.

Upper and Lower Four Horses, the supporting points known as88.18 and 88.19, are located two cun proximal and two cun distal to Middle FourHorses, respectively, on a line drawn directly up from the lateral edge of thepatella. One of my students invented an easy word game to remember twodifferent point patterns: the points of Four Horses are three fingers apart,whereas the points of Three Yellows are four fingers apart. This makes thedistance between the points in each of these combinations easy to remember.

A reliable approach to locating the Four Horses line is toidentify where the muscle changes from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane.Whether this is three cun or three and a half cun anterior to GB31, the pointsare located where the muscle plane changes. At each point, you will also find alittle depression, which may feel like a small hole or pool of energy. Needlesinserted correctly will appear to be at a 45 degree angle to the body, becausethey are placed precisely where the planes of the muscles change, so they are,in fact, inserted perpendicular to the surface.

The above guidelines about the needling of Four Horsesshould facilitate precise point location. These points are packed with qi, asthey are situated in large muscle with big blood supply and big nerve supply,making Four Horses an extremely powerful point combination.

Overview of Indications

Four Horses are primary points for asthma and pneumonia, andare also very good for acute or chronic cough. This point combination is myfirst choice for colds and flus. It is also an excellent choice for allergies,seasonal allergies, and immune system weakness. It is used for rhinitis and allsinus problems, including sinus infection, sinus inflammation, and mucus. FourHorses is effective for nasal polyps and nasal atrophy as well. Nasal atrophymeans a loss of the ability to smell, and therefore a subsequent inability totaste; this occurs, for example, in post-surgical patients who wake up fromanesthesia and cannot smell or taste.

Four Horses are good for pleurisy, and wonderful for upperback pain. They also treat sciatica and lower back pain due to lung deficiency.These points are very effective for breast pain and chest pain, including chestpain due to injury, especially if the pain moves from the front to the sides.Because this very potent point combination is found between the Shao Yang andthe Yang Ming channels, it treats breast and chest pain, which are related toYang Ming, but it also treats pain that migrates to the side, which relates toShao Yang. Due to the Shao Yang connection, the points are likewise usedbilaterally, or unilaterally, for opposite side rib, costal, intercostal andflank pain.

Four Horses are my favorite points for nearly all kinds ofskin disorders. Muscle treats muscle. Muscle also treats skin. These arefabulous points for the skin—for itching, pruritis, acne, shingles,psoriasis, and eczema. They treat skin fungus as well as thickening of the skinor scleroderma. Located very near the stomach channel and in large muscle withsignificant nerve and blood supplies, these points tonify the spleen and theqi. They adjust the spleen and stomach, and can be very effective in thetreatment of fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis, as well as skin disorders.You may also use these points for hemiplegia, facial paralysis or spasm, andpostpartum invasion of external wind chill causing joint pain, also known asafter-birth wind.

This point pattern can help the ears, too. For otitis media,ear inflammation, ear infection, deafness, and tinnitus, try Four Horses. Thecombination is effective for thyroid issues, hyperthyroid, enlarged thyroid,goiter, and protrusion of the eyeballs due to hyperthyroid.

This incredibly versatile combination may also be used forabdominal pain, lower leg strain or trauma, heart problems, and coronary heartdisease.

Needling Technique

The needling depth may range from 0.8 to 2.5 cun. The mostdistal point will typically contact bone; when it does, tap it very gently toavoid injury to the periosteum. It is beneficial to gently touch the bone withall three points. In order to insert the needles to the necessary depth, use40mm needles on Four Horses; if a patient has larger thighs, a 60mm needle maybe required. These points do not generally bruise.

Usually, but not always, Four Horses are needledbilaterally. For conditions such as asthma, colds and flus, allergies, andthyroid disorders, needle these points bilaterally. However, for conditionslocated on one side of the body, such as facial paralysis, hemiplegia,sciatica, flank pain, rib pain, and breast pain, an opposite side needlingtechnique may be used. Upper back pain is an indication that may utilize eitherbilateral needling or the opposite side technique.

For optimal results, please put some qi into your needling.Insert the needle deeply, hold the handle firmly, catch the qi and stronglystimulate these points. I am not suggesting that a patient should experiencepain when receiving Four Horses; they should not. But very strong and forcefulenergy is available here, and you have an opportunity to direct and deliver it.Don’t waste the opportunity! Patients consistently report strong movement of qiin both directions when I needle these points. Downsize your needle diameter tothe patient’s comfort level, and then decisively move the qi for immediate andexcellent results.

Leave the needles in for a minimum of one hour; they needthis amount of time to be effective. A fifteen-minute treatment—givenduring a patient’s lunch break, for example—will not be successful withFour Horses. If a patient has suffered from asthma for twenty years and youintend to significantly improve the condition, give the needles a full hour.

Typically, we needle 88.17, the primary point, first. Theother two are auxiliary points, located using 88.17 as a reference. Whenneedling for acne on the face, start with the most distal point and needletoward the proximal. When using the points for skin issues, start by insertingthe needle to the deepest level; after ten minutes, pull it up to medium depth,and after an additional ten minutes, pull it to the superficial level. In thisway you are connecting with the qi, or calling the qi. The technique of callingthe qi and then bringing it to the surface is only used in the treatment ofskin disorders, such as psoriasis, shingles, acne, or rashes.

In my clinic, when I am treating a patient’s skin condition,I insert the Four Horses needles as soon as I enter the room. I then have aconversation with the patient, during which I raise the needles. Just beforeleaving the room, I pull them up to the superficial level. If the clinic isbusy and I don’t have time to pull the needles up in stages, instead I reachthe deep to medium level, stimulate strongly, then pull the energy to thesurface level. However, the more gradual method may yield better results,depending on the skill of the practitioner.

Effects on the Lung and Liver

Four Horses are primary for lung diseases, and the lungrelates to the sinuses and the skin. Four Horses are found in the “reactionarea” of the lung and liver. Considering that the lung governs the skin, whilethe liver cleans the blood, these points are critically important in thetreatment of all skin disorders. They also treat conjunctivitis andhyperthyroid, both of which have a relationship with the liver.

The reaction area isnot included in most modern publications on Tung’s Acupuncture. It seems as ifMaster Tung may have taken his full understanding of the reaction areas to hisgrave. To date, I have not met a practitioner who can fully explain what“reaction area” means. One of my students is mapping the reaction areas of thebody in an attempt to understand how Master Tung might have developed theconcept. However, at times when we don’t understand how a point is working, wecan study the reaction area for crucial information, as in Four Horses’uniquely keen effect on the skin, or their use in the treatment of hyperthyroidconditions, both explained by the fact that the points are located in the lungand liver reaction area.

The Four Horses combination is used for breathing andasthma, common colds and flus, and all lung deficiencies, as well as any kindof pain from lung deficiency. A lung deficient type of sciatica is usuallyrelated to the UB channel, Hand Tai Yin/Foot Tai Yang. It is not necessary touse Four Horses for sciatica, since so many of Tung’s Points can effectivelytreat this disorder. However, if you are treating a patient who has bothsciatica and asthma, the sciatica will improve with the application of FourHorses for asthma. Similarly, if you are treating sciatica in a patient whoalso has psoriasis, Four Horses is an excellent choice for this combination ofdisorders.

Common Colds and Flus

Four Horses are very good for the sinuses, eyes, ears, noseand throat. For rhinitis, sinusitis, and allergies, we choose Four Horses andadd A04 Sanchasan and LI20 Yingxiang (Welcome Fragrance). Find Sanchasan at thelocation of SJ2 Yemen, but needle it with the patient’s hand in a fist or withthe ring and little fingers bent, while they relax the rest of the hand.Sanchasan is found just anterior to the dorsal ligament that connects thedorsal distal heads of the fourth and fifth metacarpals. Flexing the wrist allthe way backwards naturally creates the optimum finger position for needlingthis point. Do not bring the needle more distal for a more palmar insertion.Direct the needle between the knuckles, where a small tunnel is located; whenyou find this tunnel, the needle will slide in easily. Insert a 30mm needle allthe way into the space, with strong stimulation. With some patients you may usea 40mm needle, but in this case, you may contact a blood vessel. This point isneedled toward HT8 Shaofu, which partly explains its effectiveness in thetreatment of itching.

LI20 is needled toward Yintang, using a technique in whichthe needle’s handle is held up to create a curve in the shaft that lifts thetip of the needle up and over the nasal bone, for a horizontal insertion. Ifthe needle is not curved in this way, it will strike bone. Move the point ofinsertion away from the nasal ala, using the laugh lines, which are worn anddesensitized, following them toward Yintang. A 30mm needle may be fullyinserted. As the needle advances, thetip will be visible under the skin, arriving just below the bridge of the nose. Many blood vessels surroundthe nasal ala; therefore, perpendicular needling close to the nostril is verypainful. Compared with perpendicular insertion, this technique is virtuallypainless, as the needle travels up and over the bone. With this technique, LI20clears the entire sinus cavity within ten minutes; patients are surprised whenthey can suddenly breathe easily through both nostrils. Therefore, forallergies, colds and flus, the combination of Four Horses with Sanchasan andLI20 is a perfect pattern.

If a patient has a headache with a cold or flu, instead ofSanchasan, use 22.04 Da Bai, which is very useful in treating headaches.Alternately, for an even better treatment, needle Da Bai on one side andSanchasan on the other side.

When treating a cold or flu, always start by cupping thepatient’s neck and upper back in order to pull out the invading external wind.Make sure the room is very warm; turn on the heater before the patientdisrobes. If the patient has already caught a chill, don’t create an additionalsource of cold in their environment. Another remedy for people who are sickwith a cold is jook, which is soupy rice cooked with slices of fresh ginger andgreen onion with its roots intact. Although many people who are sick don’t wantto eat, they can usually cook and eat a pot of jook to expel the cold windthrough nutrition.

Allergies and Asthma

Four Horses is a wonderful combination for allergies. One ofmy patients came to me for treatment of allergies and asthma. She had beentaking birth control pills for more than fifteen years. After a few months, Iconvinced her to stop taking birth control, and it took us longer than usual,six months, to start her monthly bleeding again. Now she is bleeding regularly.However, asthma was her primary reason for coming to the clinic. She is 27years old and had childhood asthma and very bad allergies, including allergicreactions to her dog, who sleeps in her bedroom. Exposure to cats and rabbits,and alcohol consumption, caused her to congest and wheeze immediately. Sheliked to jog, but was no longer able to run. She often went to her sister’shouse to help with her children, and she always had an asthma attack as soon asshe walked into the house.

For this patient, I am using Four Horses, Sanchasan, andLI20, as well as 1010.19 and 1010.20 Water Gold, Water Through on the chin,excellent points for asthma. Because we are also balancing her hormones, I use11.06 Return to the Nest and 11.24 Gynecological Points. When she ispremenstrual and tearful or angry, I always add 11.17 Mu (Wood Anger) points.In my mind, she is also anorexic, although she would argue with that diagnosis.Low self-image, which is another element of her situation, can be verydifficult to work with. She recently told me that she is dealing with alcoholaddiction, too. Fortunately, her asthma and allergies are virtually gone, andshe is running again. She can be in the house with the bunny, dog, and cats,without a reaction. For a very long time, she carried her herbs everywhere shewent; she took them before entering her sister’s house in order to preventasthma attacks. Now she is able to decrease her use of herbs, since she is nolonger wheezing. She has not used an inhaler in more than six months. However,when she drinks alcohol, she gets a slight wheeze; this is currently ourbiggest obstacle. Otherwise, she is doing very well. The combination of WaterGold, Water Through with Four Horses is incredibly powerful.

This same patient often experienced a breakout of tinybumps, more like eczema than acne, always in the same area on her chin, justbefore her menstrual period. She recently caught a common cold, for which Iprescribed a Lung and Sinus formula. She later said, “The minute I startedtaking those lung herbs, the skin outbreak completely went away.” This sideeffect of the formula can be attributed to the close connection between thelung and skin.

Another of my patients has suffered from a lifetime ofsevere asthma. A retired school teacher, she is now 65 years old. She hadbreast cancer in her mid-thirties, and underwent a double mastectomyapproximately ten years before I met her. She had silicone breast implantsinserted and reconstructive surgery performed along with the mastectomy. Shecame to me for treatment when she experienced avalanche bleeding withmenopause. We quickly stopped the bleeding, using 11.06 Return to the Nest,11.24 Gynecological Points, and alternating 88.04, 88.05, 88.06 Three Sistersand Three Plum Blossom. After a short time, using Four Horses, we also had herasthma completely under control, so that she was able to exercise daily anddiscontinue using inhalers.

Sadly, one day five years ago, one of her breast implantsburst. The surgeon cleaned it up surgically, “as best he could.” Since thatday, she has had asthma that does not respond to any treatment. We work on herkidneys and lungs; we use Four Horses and Water Gold, Water Through; we bleedLU5 Chize or LU10 (Tung’s 22.11 Tu Shui); and we cup DT01 and DT02, the ToxinPoints. Currently, she manages her asthma by taking Claritin-D every day, sinceno other approach seems to work as well. We had successfully completed herasthma treatment, and she was breathing easily without inhalers for more thanfifteen years, when that incident occurred. Apparently, silicone cannot beentirely cleaned out of the body. It was most unfortunate.

For the vast majority of patients, Four Horses and WaterGold, Water Through are remarkable points for asthma. If a patient is having asevere asthma attack and is going to the emergency room to be put on arespirator, I either bleed or cup Dingchuan, on either side of GV14 Dazhui, toslow the wheezing and gain time for further treatment. I then needle the pointsreviewed above. I may add 33.13, 33.14, 33.15 Man, Earth and Heaven Scholars onthe forearms, if necessary. Such a treatment includes far more needles than Iwould normally use for an average asthma case. In this type of emergencysituation, I might also bleed either LU5, or any available veins found alongthe Four Flower line, 77.08 to 77.14.

Four Horses with Water Gold, Water Through requires a lot ofneedles, but is a very powerful combination of points. Four Horses works on thelung and liver, while Water Gold, Water Through works on the lung and kidney.This combination’s reference to gold, or metal, relates to the lung, whilewater clearly relates to the kidney. Water Gold, Water Through will strengthenthe kidneys to hold the lung qi. Lung qi is meant to descend and to be graspedby kidney energy. If kidney energy is weak, the lung qi floats, resulting incoughing and wheezing. These points are very good for acute or chronic coughand asthma.

Skin Disorders

For virtually any kind of skin disorder, consider using FourHorses. If the disorder is severe, you may also want to bleed any veins on theupper third of the back of the ear. The Shao Yang and Tai Yang channels bothextend to the back of the ear; Shao Yang is related to internal wind, while TaiYang relates to external wind. Both internal and external wind may be connectedwith skin diseases. You may also bleed the ear apex, which is the tip of theear when the ear is folded forward. Bleeding treatments like these can be givenonce a week.

For psoriasis, poison oak, hives, rashes and itching, FourHorses are extremely effective. Classic acupuncture points for itching includeSP6 Sanyinjiao, SP10 Xuehai, and LI11 Quchi; these are good choices as well.You may rotate these points, needling Four Horses one week, then SP6, SP10, andLI11 the following week. For allergic or toxin-related types of itching, youmay seven star hammer and cup the Toxin Points DT01 and DT02, found along thelateral edge of the scapula. Although patients do not typically complain ofpain in this area—unless they have been painting a ceiling, trimmingtrees, or otherwise using the muscles on the outside of the scapula—it isa region of the body that holds pollution. Wastes are stored in this area whenthe liver is unable to clean them from the bloodstream. For example, in peoplewho lay carpet, work in print shops, repair cars, or take pharmaceuticals withside effects, the toxin area must be cleaned regularly. In all of the patientsin my practice, I keep this area cleaned out.

For severe itching, a practitioner may seven star hammer andcup the toxin area. Although this is a very painful treatment, for people withsevere poison oak, it will provide enormous relief from insatiable itching. Theseven star hammer treatment is not needed for chemical exposures fromchemotherapy, radiation, HIV cocktails, or medications; in these cases, simplycup the toxin points. For itching from shingles, you may seven star hammer andcup the toxin points, but only if no shingles appear in the toxin area; ifshingles occur there, the virus can be spread by this treatment.

To quickly eliminate the severe burning from searing nervepain that often comes in the aftermath of shingles—a pain that can lastup to a year—we can offer a very effective, very powerful, but extremelypainful treatment. For these reasons, the treatment must be thoroughlydiscussed with the patient, and the patient must willingly consent.Excruciating nerve pain occurs after shingles because the toxic virus is stilllodged in the surface; we need to open it and allow the poison to come out.Once the scabs have fallen from the lesions and only the fresh pink skinbeneath is visible, we may seven star hammer the pink skin and cup over thearea, in as many areas as possible. Because shingles often appear within thehairline or over bony areas, cups may not be easily applied. Hammer firmly, andyou will not need to repeat the technique in that area. One swipe with asterile pad will convince the patient of the immediate effectiveness of thispainful approach. In most cases the nerve pain will be gone. Only occasionallyhave I needed to repeat the procedure. Timing is important; before the freshpink skin has disappeared, we know where to locate the problem. Otherwise wemust make a guess based on the patient’s report, which means we inevitablyseven star hammer healthy skin in our attempt to cover the diseased areas. Besure not to hammer when blisters are still present, or over a scab. Thispowerful treatment is also excellent in the treatment of stubborn herpesoutbreaks, and guarantees that a herpes outbreak will never again occur in thatsame location. Patients will tell you that the short-term pain of the treatmentfar outweighs the reoccurring burning and itching of herpes. Of course, it isassumed that one would never consider hammering the most private areas.

LI11 Quchi is a primary point for wind, and SP10 Xuehai, theSea of Blood point, is a primary point for blood; therefore, these points areclassically combined for itching and rashes. For wind disorders, it isnecessary to treat the blood. Itching and skin rashes result from the fightingof qi and blood, and of wind and fire, inflaming the skin. It is critical toexpel the wind and move the blood. We can alternate LI11 and SP10 with FourHorses. Additionally, you might use SP10 with the extra point, One HundredInsects Nest, located one cun proximal to SP10. SP6 Sanyinjiao may also beused, as it strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness. Because itching,sores and pain all belong to the heart, H8 Shaofu, the ying-spring fire pointon the heart meridian, is another good choice for itching. Egg yolk is alsobeneficial for itching, whereas patients with skin issues should avoid eggwhites, which increase wind.

For acne, Four Horses can be used along with LI20, whichhelps to guide the power of Four Horses to the face. Such a guiding point isvery useful, as it directs the body’s energy to the area needing treatment. Foradolescent acne, adult acne, or deeper, more painful types of boils, FourHorses will excel. For all of these skin issues, the blood needs thoroughcleaning, so the practitioner should cup the toxin area weekly, until the skinstops coloring, indicating that there are no more poisons in the area. Deepacne is more difficult to treat. If a patient suffers from a severe case ofacne, bleed GV14, UB13 Feishu, and UB15 Xinshu (lung and heart shu) to clearheat, and/or bleed the back of the ear.

Four Horses are remarkable points for psoriasis. When I seean eczema or psoriasis patient for the first time, particularly if the case isextreme, I tell them directly and clearly that if they are not 100% compliantwith the dietary requirements for these conditions, they should not waste mytime or their own by coming for treatment. With psoriasis, a patient must wearcotton clothing and not polyester, and avoid lying or sitting on carpets, whichcontain chemical toxins. They must avoid all caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods,wheat, dairy products, and sugar, which feed inflammation. The diet isdifficult to follow, but success rates are consistently high for patients whoare willing to comply.

My most recent psoriasis patient worked very hard to improvehis condition, and within three months of treatment, his head-to-toe psoriasiswas 90% under control—a fine example of the remarkable effectiveness ofFour Horses. This patient had a severe case of psoriasis on his hands and fingers;all of his fingernails were pitted and deformed. He worked as a real estateagent and often shook clients’ hands during the workday; his hands needed tolook clear and presentable. After three months of acupuncture and herbaltreatment, his hands were completely free of lesions. For this patient, Ineedled not only Four Horses, but also 11.17 Mu (Wood) points, bilaterally,which are specifically used for treatment of skin diseases on the hands.Bilateral Wood points can also be applied for people with dripping wet,sweating palms. For all other disorders, 11.17 is needled only on the leftside, opposite the liver.

Unfortunately, the above-mentioned patient loved caffeineand alcohol. He was an alcoholic who had been sober for a number of years, buthad started drinking a little bit again in the weeks before he came to see me.He also liked to eat spicy Thai food. He limited his diet for three months,which contributed to the 90% improvement of his psoriasis. However, he beganmissing appointments and making excuses because he did not have the emotionalstrength and discipline to maintain treatment. He bought a tanning bed insteadof continuing acupuncture and herbs, since sunlight is very good for psoriasis.It is common for patients to become overly confident when they experienceremarkable results from treatment.

Fifteen years ago, I treated another patient who alsosuffered from severe psoriasis. He was from the Philippines, and his skinshould have been brown, but it was crusty white and pink, inflamed, andpainful, with almost no healthy skin. The psoriasis had entered his joints; thefingers and knees were especially painful. We achieved excellent results in hiscase, as well. Psoriasis requires a good herbal formula as well as acupuncture.I gave this patient the analgesic Scheffler Root, also known as Qi Ye Lian, anextraordinary single-herb that increases circulation and brings downinflammation, and is especially helpful in cases of arthritis and joint pain.This herb does not work quickly, as pharmaceuticals do; instead, it may take upto six weeks of regular dosing before significant effects can be seen. It wasvery effective for the patient with psoriasis in his joints. He also took aspecial psoriasis formula, enjoyed regular full-body sunbaths, and wasextremely disciplined with his dietary restrictions. Misery is a very goodmotivator. His skin slowly transformed from inflamed pink to smooth white, thenfrom white to its natural brown hue. After a treatment duration of nearly ninemonths, the patient was very pleased with his results. To my knowledge, hiscondition never returned.

Some patients have very large psoriatric lesions, broaderthan the width of two hands. In some cases, it is helpful to seven star hammerthe perimeter of the lesion, but only on the healthy skin around the lesion’sedges. This stimulates the healing process in the area, and results in the slowshrinking of the lesion; each week, you will notice a significant decrease inits size. However, a seven star hammer treatment is very painful, and thereforeshould be optional.

As psoriasis is thought to be an autoimmune disease, thepatient’s abstinence from toxins and allergens is of the utmost importance. Nowords are spared in my initial visit with such patients. They must agree tofull compliance with dietary and lifestyle restrictions before I will proceedwith their treatment.

Ears and Eyes

Four Horses is used for ear infection and otitis media, dueto its strong Shao Yang connection, as the Foot Shao Yang channel wraps aroundthe ears. I typically use either Four Horses bilaterally, or 77.22 and 77.23Beside Three Miles on the opposite side, with 22.06 Zhongbai on the affectedside. Bleeding any veins in the vicinity of the external malleolus will give anice boost to the treatment effects. An appropriate herbal formula is alsorecommended for these ailments.

Tinnitus can be difficult to treat, no matter what themodality. Western medicine offers little or no recourse for people sufferingfrom ringing in the ears, and patients who seek acupuncture have often beensuffering for many years with little help. Traditional Chinese Medicineordinarily instructs us to treat this problem as a kidney deficiency, but thisapproach sometimes has no effect. Dr. Young has discovered that in tinnituscases, the tonification of spleen qi often has a far superior impact. Thanks tohis findings, Four Horses with 22.05 Ling Gu, which tonifies qi, is now myfavorite combination for tinnitus. Sanchasan with Ling Gu and GB31 Nine Milesis also effective. SI19 Tinggong can be added as a guiding point to direct theqi toward the ear. A spleen tonifyingformula, like Yi Qi Chong Ming Tang, which consists of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang plusGe Gen, can be helpful, too.

For cases of tinnitus that are clearly caused by kidneydeficiency, use 22.06 and 22.07 Zhongbai and Xiabai, SI3-22.08 WristProsperous, and Ling Gu, as well as GB31- 88.25 Nine Miles, GB41 Linqi andGB42. The tonifying of Three Emperors (77.18 Shenguan, with 77.19 and 77.21)and 88.12 Minghuang is also recommended. The bleeding of LU5 Chize may behelpful.

In cases of deafness or sudden hearing loss, any of theabove treatments may be attempted, with an emphasis on 77.18 Shenguan (KidneyGate). Bleed GV16 Fengfu and needle 88.32 Shiyin (Lost Voice), and add thethree points in front of the ear. This condition can be very difficult to treatsuccessfully, especially if its duration has been longer than one year.

Four Horses can also be used for conjunctivitis or eyeproblems such as red or irritated sclera. The sclera belongs to the lungs. Thisconnection was illustrated for me very clearly in Cleveland, Ohio, where Itaught a bleeding class. One student’s eyes were bright red and irritated, asif he had not slept for many days and nights. He volunteered to serve as thepatient for my demonstration of bleeding LU5 Chize. The entire class watched asLU5 bled and his sclera cleared, changing from red to white, within tenminutes—a flawless example of the direct link between the lung and the sclera.Such extraordinary results often occur with bleeding techniques. Therelationship between Four Horses and the lung and liver also explains itseffectiveness in treating the eyes. For this reason, the point combination canbe utilized to treat conjunctivitis.

Four Horses is not used for swollen eyelids; that disorderbelongs to the spleen, since the spleen governs the eyelids. Swollen eyelidsmay be treated with A04 Sanchasan and 66.05 Menjin (Golden Gate), also a usefulcombination for people who cannot keep their eyelids open due to weakness anddeficiency.

Hyperthyroidism and Goiter

According to TCM, simple goiter is phlegm accumulation inthe neck, caused by qi and blood stagnation. If irritability and frustrationare also present, the condition may easily transform into spleen qi (phlegm)obstruction with liver qi stagnationcausing liver fire to rise, and resulting in heart yin deficiency, or ahyperthyroid condition. Commonly, there is a significant emotional componentinvolved. Because Four Horses is located between the Shao Yang and Yang Mingchannels, it is capable of addressing both wind and phlegm in a powerful way.Due to the relationships between San Jiao and gallbladder, gallbladder andliver, and spleen and stomach, as well as the location of the thyroid gland,Four Horses becomes one of the best point patterns in the treatment ofhyperthyroid disease. A strong herbal formula is also required.

In two cases of gestational hyperthyroid, I chose Tung’sPoints 77.25 Zuwujin and 77.24 Zuqianjin (Leg Five Gold and Leg Thousand Gold),instead of Four Horses. These points may have acted more slowly, but theyworked beautifully. This diagnosis also requires a carefully designed herbalprescription, in order to avoid sedation of the fetus.

Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Breast Pain, ChestPain,

Facial Spasms and Heel Pain

Because muscle treats muscle, and Four Horses is located inlarge muscle, this combination is very good for fibromyalgia and multiplesclerosis. Add Sanchasan for patients with these disorders. In cases ofmultiple sclerosis, scalp acupuncture should be used as well. In patientssuffering from fibromyalgia, the nerves are ten times more reactive than whennerve sensation is normal, causing extreme nerve, muscle, and joint pain. Withfibromyalgia patients, I like to apply very gentle cupping in a small area,such as a single joint or muscle group; it is painful but effective. Apply onecup, using three pumps only, and leave the cup on the body for only threeminutes. Add 1010.08 Zhenjing, just above Yintang and 11.17 Mu (Wood) points tocalm the spirit, since people with fibromyalgia are often very tense, andusually suffer from irritability and depression as well. Prepare the patientthoroughly, explaining the additional pain of cupping, so that they will not besurprised about the discomfort or the cupping marks.

For breast pain and breast cancer, we can use Four Horsesalong with Four Flower Upper and Middle. Another Tung’s Point pattern foundbetween the Shao Yang and Yang Ming channels, 66.06 and 66.07, Mudou, Muliu(Wood Keep and Wood Scoop), is also a beneficial combination. Rather than usinggallbladder points, Master Tung’s system employs many potent points between theShao Yang and Yang Ming channels, with combined and powerful effects on bothchannels; such points are especially useful for diseases with wind or phlegm ascausative factors.

For chest, abdomen and rib pain, breast pain and hemiplegia,needle Four Horses on the opposite side. Many additional combinations can beapplied. For rib pain that moves from the front to the side, and for chest painaround the ribs, particularly flank pain, we can also use SJ6 Zhigou and GB34Yanglingquan. For chest pain in the front, I select PC6 Neiguan and SP4Gongsun; however, I needle PC6 first to open the chest, followed by SP4.Bilateral needling is not necessary; choose one side for each point. SP4 andPC6 are also useful for abdominal pain, but for this complaint we needle SP4first in order to direct the body’s energy to the abdomen.

Facial Spasms

One of my colleagues, Dr. Hoang Ta, recently described hisuse of Four Horses for facial spasms. A 75-year-old female patient told thephysician that she experienced frequent spasms in the right side of her face.Because she reported that they seemed much worse when the weather was changing,damp, windy or cold, he cleverly decided to try Four Horses. Approximately tenminutes after the insertion of the needles, the spasms completely stopped. Hegave her a second treatment the next day, to reinforce the first. Although thisdoctor applied needles to both sides, I suggest needling the opposite sidefirst with strong stimulation, and adding the points on the other side aftertwenty minutes, to boost the immune system. Cupping the jaw would also beappropriate in such a case, as long as the patient is very careful to protectthe post-cupping area from wind or cold, with a wrap or scarf. Moxa would alsohelp to increase circulation in the affected area. I appreciate the physician’slogic, as he was “thinking outside the box,” a strategy applied bypractitioners who truly know the points and the body.

Heel Pain

Four Horses can be used for heel pain, and you may add thehand heel points, PC7 Daling and a point 1” distal to PC7. It is important todetermine the cause of the patient’s heel pain. If it is plantar fasciitis,arch supports are an excellent remedy; without arch supports, the pain willnever heal completely. Supportive shoes and calf muscle stretches are alsonecessary. If heel pain occurs with bone spurs, usually it is a result of softtissue inflammation, rather than the spur itself. The body lays down calcium inthe form of bone spurs to shore up an area of weakness, but in an inefficientway; the spurs cause tissue inflammation, which are the true source of thediscomfort. The patient will need an herbal formula for soft tissueinflammation.

In closing, I hope that each of you reading or listening tothis paper have gleaned a few helpful ideas about the many uses of the powerfulMaster Tung’s Points combination known as Four Horses. With proper pointlocation and technique, and a little practice, they will become invaluabletools in your clinical repertoire. I find myself using these points many timeseach day, especially during the change of seasons when it is very easy forpeople to catch cold. But it would be a shame to stop there. The versatility ofFour Horses put them in the top five of my favorites of Master Tung’sextraordinary points. I guarantee that the more familiar you become with thesepoints, the more amazing they will become for you, and for those whom youtreat.

In the clinic of my teacher, Dr. Miriam Lee, OMD, herstudents called these points “Tung’s Magic Points,” and the name stuck. Thereare many who think that the word “magic” cheapens or trivializes the points. Ofcourse, the points are not really magic, any more than the I-Ching is magic.However, some of us see magic and nearly transcendental inspiration in themathematical perfection of the I-Ching. Likewise, we find exquisite beauty inTung’s Acupuncture Points. Other systems offer profound and inspired points aswell, but none are more extraordinary than these. Ask those who use them, orbetter yet, those who receive them. The methods and reasons for the points’effectiveness will continue to expand, the longer you study and practice them.I am deeply indebted to Dr. Young Wei-Chieh for bringing Tung’s Acupuncture tothe United States, and for teaching me these points, beginning in 1987; withouthim, I would not be standing here.

It is such a great honor to be invited here today tocelebrate the 35^th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatestacupuncturists who ever walked the earth, Master Tung Ching-Chang. Knowing thathis feet touched this very soil, here in Qingdou where we walk today, is athrill that I never expected to experience. I can only pray to be worthy ofthis privilege, and will continue to dedicate my life to the service ofhumanity and to the spreading of my limited understanding of his profound bodyof work. Few people in the history of mankind have made as significant acontribution as Master Tung, to ease the pain and suffering that is the humancondition. It is with the greatest gratitude and respect that we celebrate himon this day.

Susan Johnson, L.Ac.was licensed by the State of California, USA, in 1985. She was first exposed toTung’s Acupuncture in 1982, in the clinic of Dr. Lee Chuan-Djin, OMD (Dr.Miriam Lee) in Palo Alto, California. Susan was a primary student of Dr. Leefor more than twelve years, and they traveled to Hefei, China together in 1987,to study bleeding techniques with Dr. Wang Su-Jen. Also in 1987, Susan wasintroduced to Dr. Young Wei-Chieh, which began a more in-depth inquiry into theseextraordinary points. Since that time, she has taken classes with Dr. Youngwhenever possible, maintains a clinical practice in Santa Cruz, California, andteaches courses in Master Tung’s Magic Points throughout the United States.