What Is Acupoint Prescription and Point Combination in TCM Acupressure?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupressure therapy, the clinical application of acupoints is not random but follows a systematic approach known as acupoint prescription (处方). This refers to the strategic combination of specific acupoints to address a particular condition, analogous to a herbal formula in Chinese medicine. The pairing of two or more points to target a specific syndrome is called point combination (配穴).

Based on the scope of treatment, acupoint prescriptions are classified into three main categories:

In practice, the specific points within a prescription can be adjusted according to the patient's evolving condition. This principle, known as 随证加减 (modification based on pattern), allows the practitioner to add or remove points as symptoms change, ensuring the treatment remains dynamic and personalized.

Understanding acupoint prescription and combination is fundamental to effective acupressure therapy, as it transforms isolated point stimulation into a coherent therapeutic strategy rooted in TCM theory.

References

Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), Lingshu chapter on acupoint selection; Nanjing (Classic of Difficulties) regarding point combinations; modern TCM textbooks on acupressure therapy.