Confluent Acupoints
of the
Eight Extraordinary Vessels
self-acupressure
Self massaging these acupoints provides an easy way to activate all of the eight extraordinary vessels. There's 4 bilateral acupoints on the hands and 4 similarly on the feet. Easy to reach, easy to remember. Download and print the below graphics to get started.
You'll find that the goals of balancing, harmonizing, and filling reserves that is often advertised as the domain of du and ren (the microcosmic orbit) is more effectively addressed by including all 8 of the extraordinary vessels. Once again, bust the popular myth that "the microcosmic orbit does everything" and replace it with the more complex and more true integral view: "everything works together, the more channels open the better".
The 8 extraordinary vessels are deeper than the 12 regular channels, deeper than external sensation. They are about harmonizing, neutralizing, and deep storage and as such you'll likely find that desire is diminished while working with them. They are sometimes called the psychic channels, have to do with prenatal energies and also with heaven~earth integration.
REFERENCES
Essential Shiatsu by Kawada & Karcher
A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman
... and any other source about the eight extraordinary vessels of Chinese medicine.
