Sa-Am Acupuncture
&Sambu Acupuncture
The Traditional Korean Acupuncture
Type.
An old saying in Korean
traditional medicine
Acupuncture, first
Moxa, second
Medication, third
Contents
1. Introduction to Sa-Am Acupuncture
2. Hypothesis on Eight Trigrams and
Eight Meridians
3. Introduction to Sambu Acupuncture
4. Principles of Sambu Acupuncture
5. Syndrome Differentiation
6. Summary
Three categories of acupuncture
Body Acupuncture
Ashi Acupuncture
Principle Acupuncture
Sa-Am Acupuncture
Sa-Am
Zen monk and
acupuncturist
Chosun Dynasty, Korea
“Observe ups and downs of seven emotions”
Medicine and Mind
Dr. Kim, Hong
Kyung
“Control the mind first to heal diseases”
Screenshot image of Dr. Kim’s
TV lecture
Sa-Am Acupuncture
What is Sa-Am acupuncture?
Founded by Sa-Am, 450 years ago in Korea
Sa-Am, a zen master and acupuncturist in Chosun dynasty, Korea
Principle acupuncture based on yin-yang and five element theory
Point selection according to the principles
Meridian is the route of mind and emotions
Acupuncture can affect the mind as well as the body
Origin of five element acupuncture
Effective and safe
Use mainly five shu points on the limbs
Sa-Am Acupuncture
Principles of Sa-Am acupuncture
For deficiency, tonify the mother; for excess, reduce the son
The Classic of Difficulties, chapter 69
Generating cycle( 相生 ), controlling cycle( 相剋 )
For deficiency, reduce the control; for excess, tonify the
control Generating Mother
Fire
cycle
Unique to Sa-Am acupuncture Grandmothe So
Controlling cycle r n
Wood Earth
Five elemental properties of channels
Spleen channel: earth, heart channel: fire
Five elemental properties of shu points Water Metal
controlling
SP1: wood, SP2: fire, SP3: earth,cycle
SP5: metal, SP9: water
• General principles of Saam acupuncture
– For deficiency, supplement the mother and drain the suppressor. ( 虛則補其母 , 虛則抑其官 )
• Classic of Difficult Issues( 難經 ) chapter 69
• Engendering relationships( 相生 )
• Traditional five phase acupuncture methods
– For excess, drain the son and supplement the suppressed ( 實則瀉其子 , 實則補其讎 )
• Restraining relationships( 相剋 )
• Unique in Saam acupuncture method.
– Inter-meridian relationships are also considered.
• Generally 4 points are used in Saam acupuncture
– 2 points from the affected meridian( 自經 )
– 2 points from other related meridians( 他經 )
– The 2 points are selected either
• by engendering relationships( 相生 )
• or by Restraining relationships( 相剋 ) of Five Phase characteristics of the five
transport points.
Sa-Am Acupuncture
In the case of spleen channel deficiency - Tonification formula
1.
2. Tonify mother points
HT 8 ( 少府 ): fire point of fire channel
HT9-wood, HT8-fire, HT7-earth, HT4-metal, HT3-
water Mother
Fire
SP 2 ( 大都 ): fire point of spleen channel
Control Sel
SP1-wood, SP2-fire, SP3-earth, SP5-metal, SP9-water
Wood Earthf
3.
4. Reduce control points
LR 1 ( 大敦 ): wood point of wood channel Water Metal
LR1-wood, LR2-fire, LR3-earth, LR4-metal, LR8-water
SP 1 ( 隱白 ): wood point of spleen channel
SP1-wood, SP2-fire, SP3-earth, SP5-metal, SP9-water
HT 8 ( 少府 ): fire point of fire channel
SP 2 ( 大都 ): fire point of spleen
channel
LR 1 ( 大敦 ): wood point of wood
channel
SP 1 ( 隱白 ): wood point of spleen
channel
Sa-Am Acupuncture
In the case of liver channel excess – Sedation formula
1.
2. Reduce son points
HT 8 ( 少府 ): fire point of fire channel
HT9-wood, HT8-fire, HT7-earth, HT4-metal, HT3-water Son
LR 2 ( 行間 ): fire point of liver channel Fire
LR1-wood, LR2-fire, LR3-earth, LR4-metal, LR8-water
3.
Wood Earth
4. Tonify control points Sel
f
LU 8 ( 經渠 ): metal point of metal channel
LU11-wood, LU10-fire, LU9-earth, LU8-metal, LU5-Water Metal
water
LR 4 ( 中封 ): metal point of liver channel
LR1-wood, LR2-fire, LR3-earth, LR4-metal, LR8-water Contr
ol
HT 8 ( 少府 ): fire point of fire channel
LR 2 ( 行間 ): fire point of liver channel
LU 8 ( 經渠 ): metal point of metal
channel
LR 4 ( 中封 ): metal point of liver
channel
–So, The four points are Sa am acupuncture points in case of
spleen meridian deficiency.
Deficiency conditions are treated by using the following methods
Tonify the horary point on the mother organ's channel. Horary
means that the point's element and the channel's element are the
same, for example, the fire point on the fire channel.
Tonify the mother organ's element point on the affected channel.
Sedate the horary point on the "controlling" organ's channel.
Sedate the controlling organ's element point on the affected organ.
In saam acupuncture practice , when you want to tonify the points,
you should place the needle’s tip at a 0~ 45° angle with the
meridian flow (in the forward direction of the meridian flow), with
rotation clockwise or to the right side 9 times, whereas you should
place the needle’s tip at a 0~ 45° angle against the meridian flow
(in the reverse or in the opposite direction of the meridian flow),
with rotation counter-clockwise or the left side 6 times if you want
to sedate the points.
Basic Formulae of Sa-Am Acupuncture
Tonifi Sedat
catio ion
Channel n Form
Form ulae
ulae
Tonify Redu Redu Tonify
ce ce
LU SP3 LU9 HT8 LU10 KI10 LU5 HT8 LU10
LI ST36 LI11 SI5 LI5 BL66 LI2 SI5 LI5
ST SI5 ST41 GB41 ST43 LI1 ST45 GB41 ST43
SP HT8 SP2 LR1 SP1 LU8 SP5 LR1 SP1
HT LR1 HT9 KI10 HT3 SP3 HT7 KI10 HT3
SI GB41 SI3 BL66 SI2 ST36 SI8 BL66 SI2
BL LI1 BL67 ST36 BL40 GB41 BL65 ST36 BL40
KI LU8 KI7 SP3 KI3 LR1 KI1 SP3 KI3
PC LR1 PC9 KI10 PC3 SP3 PC7 KI10 PC3
TE GB41 TE3 BL66 TE2 ST36 TE10 BL66 TE2
The book of Changes (Yi Jing)
Great Void
( 無極 )
Tai ji
( 太極 )
Yin Yang
Yin-Yang
( 陰陽 )
4
Phenomena
Tai Yin Shao Shao Yin Tai Yang
Yang
( 四象 )
8
Trigrams
Eart Mountai Wat Win Thunde Fire Mars Heav ( 八卦 )
h n er d r 離 h en
坤 艮 坎 巽 震 兌 乾
The book of Changes (Yi Jing)
The book of Changes (Yi Jing)
Qian Yang Kan
Heave Water
n
Kun
Earth
Li Yin
Fire [Korean national flag]
Tai ji (yin and yang)
4 Trigrams : Heaven,
earth, fire, water
The book of Changes (Yi Jing)
Eight
Trigram
s
Number 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Name 坤 (kun) 艮 (gen) 坎 (kan) 巽 (xun) 震 (zhen) 離 (li) 兌 (dui) 乾 (qian)
Natural
Phenom 地 (di) 山 (shan) 水 (shui) 風 (feng) 雷 (lei) 火 (hua) 澤 (ze) 天 (tian)
ena
Mountai
Earth Water Wind Thunder Fire Marsh Heaven
n
Relationship of Eight Trigrams to
Meridians- Hypothesis -
Eight
Trigram
s
Number 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Name 坤 (kun) 艮 (gen) 坎 (kan) 巽 (xun) 震 (zhen) 離 (li) 兌 (dui) 乾 (qian)
Natural
Phenom 地 (di) 山 (shan) 水 (shui) 風 (feng) 雷 (lei) 火 (hua) 澤 (ze) 天 (tian)
ena
Mountai
Earth Water Wind Thunder Fire Marsh Heaven
n
Meridia Ren Yang ming Tai yang Jue yin Shao yang Shao yin Tai yin Du
ns ( 任脈 ) ( 陽明 ) ( 太陽 ) ( 厥陰 ) ( 少陽 ) ( 少陰 ) ( 太陰 ) ( 督脈 )
Mind /
Emotion 恨 (lament) 選 (select) 悅 (delight)
s
Sexualit
Concept Dissatisfact Careful Power Passion Satisfac Governi
y
ion ion ness Arrogan Inferiori tion ng
Poverty Pleasur
Trust Fear ce ty Greed Doubt
e
Six
Relationship of Eight Trigrams to
Meridians- Hypothesis -
7 2
Gen ( 艮 ) Dui ( 兌 )
心 + 艮 = 恨
心 + 兌 = 悅 (Delight)
(Lament)
Mountain Marsh
Bright yang (Yangming) Greater Yin (Taiyin)
Dryness Dampness
Metal Earth
Dissatisfaction, poverty Satisfaction, rich, greed
8 Trigrams.
Buddha’s saying
“That exists because this exists.
That arises because this arises.
That ceases to exist because this
has ceased to exist.
As this falls away, so does that.”
Relationship of Eight Trigrams to
Meridians- Hypothesis -
Phenomen
Trigram No Name Related Meridian Mind
a
1 Qian ( 乾 ) Heaven Governing vessel Governing, doubt
Satisfaction,
2 Dui ( 兌 ) Marsh Tai yin meridian
greed
Sexuality,
3 Li ( 離 ) Fire Shao yin meridian
pleasure
Shao yang Inferiority,
4 Zhen ( 震 ) Thunder
meridian passion
5 Xun ( 巽 ) Wind Jue yin meridian Power, arrogance
6 Kan ( 坎 ) Water Tai yang meridian Fear, carefulness
Yang ming
7 Gen ( 艮 ) Mountain Dissatisfaction
meridian
8 Kun ( 坤 ) Earth Conception vessel Conception, trust
Eight trigrams and meridians imply the eight states of the mind
Sambu Acupuncture
Phases of five shu points
Every shu point has three seats for five elements
LU 11 : Jing point of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (Metal, Earth, Wood)
LI 2 : Ying point of Hand Yangming Large Intestine Channel (Metal, Metal,
Water)
3. 2. Six Qi 1.
Element Taiyang Water Organ
of Shu LR / GB Wood
point Yangming Metal
HT / SI Fire
Points Yin Yang Shaoyang Fire
SP / ST Earth
Jing/well Wood Metal Taiyin Earth
LU / LI Metal
Ying/spring Fire Water Shaoyin Fire
KI / BL Water
Shu/stream Earth Wood Jueyin Wood
PC / TE Fire
Jing/river Metal Fire
He/sea Water Earth
Sambu Acupuncture
Three categories of five shu
points
Point No of
Phase Examples
Category Points
LU 11 (Metal, Earth,
Wood) ST 44 (Earth,
Sambu ( 三符 ) Three elements 18
Metal, Water) GB 44
(Wood, Fire, Metal)
LI 2 (Metal, Metal, Water)
Yibu ( 二符 ) Two elements PC 9 (Fire, Wood, Wood) 36
ST 36 (Earth, Metal, Earth)
HT 8 (Fire, Fire, Fire)
SP 3 (Earth, Earth, Earth)
Chunbu ( 天府 ) One element 6
BL 66 (Water, Water,
Water)
Sambu Acupuncture
How to make balance?
Earth
Fire Meta Wate Woo
l r d
Sambu Acupuncture
Principles of Sambu
Acupuncture
Restore Balance of the yin-yang and five elements.
Constitution examined from five elemental point of
view
Identify two excessive phases of the patient, and
tonify the relatively deficient three phases.
e.g. If wood and fire are in excess, then tonify
LU5(Metal, Earth, Water) and ST44(Earth, Metal, Water)
Use sambu points.
Sambu Acupuncture
18 sambu points
Points Phase Use
LU 11 ST 43 Wood, Earth, Metal Water & Fire in excess
LU 10 ST 41 Fire, Earth, Metal Wood & Water in excess
LU 5 ST 44 Earth, Metal, Water Wood & Fire in excess
GB 34 PC 7 Wood, Fire, Earth Metal & Water in excess
GB 44 PC 5 Wood, Fire, Metal Earth & Water in excess
GB 43 PC 3 Wood, Fire, Water Earth & Metal in excess
KI 1 SI 3 Wood, Fire, Water Earth & Metal in excess
KI 3 SI 8 Fire, Earth, Water Wood & Metal in excess
KI 7 SI 1 Fire, Metal, Water Wood & Earth in excess
When fire & earth, or fire & metal is in excess, utilize yibu
points.
LU 11 ( 少商 ), ST43 ( 陷谷 )
Wood, earth, and metal are tonified when water and fire are in
excess
LU 5 ( 尺澤 ), ST44 ( 內庭 )
Earth, metal and water are tonified when wood and fire are in
LU 10 ( 魚際 ), ST41 ( 解谿 )
Fire, earth, and metal are tonified when wood and water are in
GB 34 ( 陽陵泉 ), PC 7 ( 大陵 )
Wood, fire and earth are tonified when metal and water are in
GB 44 ( 竅陰 ), PC 5 ( 間使 )
Wood, fire and metal are tonified when earth and water are in
GB 43( 俠谿 ), PC 3( 曲澤 )
Wood, fire and water are tonified when earth and metal are in
KI 1( 湧泉 ), SI 3( 後谿 )
Wood, fire and water are tonified when earth and metal are in
KI 3( 太谿 ) SI 8( 小海 )
Fire, earth and water are tonified when wood and metal are in
excess
KI 7( 復溜 ) SI 1( 少澤 )
Fire, metal and water are tonified when wood and earth are in
Sambu Acupuncture
Syndrome differentiation
Sambu Acupuncture
Syndrome Differentiation
Pulse
Wood is 弦而急 (wiry and tense)
Fire is 浮大而散 (superficial, large and dissipated)
Earth is 緩而大 (moderate and large pulse)
Metal is 浮澁 (floating rough and short)
Water is 沈濡而滑 (deep soggy and slippery)
Sambu Acupuncture
Syndrome Differentiation
Physical Constitution (cold, heat, thin, plump)
Cold syndrome: cold limbs, aversion to cold, pale
complexion, absence of thirst, preference to hot drinking,
clear plenty of urine, loose stool, pale tongue, slow pulse
Heat syndrome: fever, thirst, preference to cold drinks,
red complexion, smelly yellow sticky or dry stool, yellow
and scanty urine, constipation, red tongue, rapid pulse
Sambu Acupuncture
Syndrome Differentiation
Mind & Emotions
木 - 怒 (Wood - Anger)
火 - 喜 (Fire - Joy)
土 - 思 (Earth – Thought, Anxiety)
金 - 憂 (Metal - Grief)
水 - 恐 (Water - Fear)
Sambu Acupuncture
Syndrome Differentiation
Complexion
Color of the face
Blue, red, yellow, white(pale) and
black(dark)
(wood, fire, earth, metal, water)
Sambu Acupuncture
Syndrome Differentiation
After examination of the patient
Two excessive phases are identified.
Balance the five phases by tonifying the
relevant sambu points
Re-examination on follow-up visit.
Sambu Acupuncture
Summary of Sambu
Acupuncture
1. Based on the basic principles of Korean medicine.
2. Differential diagnosis includes pulse, constitution,
personality, complexion and somatotype analysis
3. Five phase constitutional approach rather than
symptoms
4. Less side-effects, Suitable for complex diseases
5. Five shu points are used to restore the balance of
five phases
Yin-Yang Rehabilitation
Circulation of yin & yang
Keep the head cool and lower abdomen
warm
The fundamental basis of the vital qi
circulation.
Somatotype
Obese or plump
Skinny or thin
Water and food
Yin foods: Sweet, sour, greasy, and slippery
foods
Yang foods: hot and spicy, and dry foods
Shaeng-Shuk-Tang ( 生熟湯 )
Pour hot water first, and pour cold
water afterwards. Drink it right
away.
Relieve vomiting and diarrhoea.
Shaeng Shuk Tang for prevention of
disease.
Shaeng Shuk Tang for healthy life.
in the book of Dong Ui Bo Gam.
Balance of Yin & Yang
Bath
Soak the lower body in the
warm water
Keep the head cool and lower
abdomen warm
Vital circulation of yin-yang qi.
Air conditioning at home and work
Keep the air cool and the floor warm
Balance of Yin & Yang
Exercise, Colors, Music
Yin-yang should be balanced even when it
comes to exercise, choice of colors and music.
A person of yin is recommended to take up
more dynamic exercise, brighter colors, and
fast and high-toned music.
A person of yang should choose slower
exercises, darker colors, and slow and low-
toned music.
Atmospheric Influence of 2010
2010 is Year of gen yin( 庚寅 )
Excessive Metal phase and Ministerial Fire
Those who are thin and hot (Metal and Fire
constitution)
Should take good care of oneself
Recommended points for tonification to keep balanced
BL 40 ( 委中 , 2 Water + 1 Earth)
SP 9 ( 陰陵泉 , 2 Earth + 1 Water)
Atmospheric Influence of 2014
2014 is Year of Gabo( 甲午 )
Earth phase and Excessive Fire
Those who are obese and hot (Earth and Fire
constitution)
Should take good care of oneself
Recommended points for tonification to keep balanced
LI2( Metal + Metal + Water)
BL 67( Metal + Water+Water)
淸肝解鬱湯 (Liver Clearing and Stagnation Releasing
Decoction)I often prescribe the following herb
recipe for patients with the history of cancer. 當
歸 白朮 3.75g 貝母 赤茯苓 白芍藥 熟地黃 山梔 2.625g
人參 柴胡 牧丹皮 陳皮 川芎 甘草 1.875g
Thank you
