A great number of Pair-points were recorded by Huang Fu Mi in The Systematic Classic of A cup uncture and Moxib ustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing) during the Jin Dynasty in 282 A.D. After extensive research, some found that in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing) there are 101 items in treatment instructions describing at least two distinct points. Of those. 55 items were focused on pair-point combinations.
In the-pair point combinations specific points were used most commonly. Within the specific points pairings, the use of five-shu-point pairings was most popular. The combinations include: ying-spring point and shu-stream point pair, ying-spring point and he-sea point pair, ying-spring point and jing-river point pair. shu-stream point and jing-river point pair. shu-stream point and he-sea point pair, jing-well point and jing-well point pair, jlng-well point and he-sea point pair, and jing-well point and jing-river point pair.
In addition, there is the anterior-posterior pairing method,which is one point on the chest and abdomen paired with a point on the back. The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing) Book Nine,Number Seven states. "if the abdomen is full. one is unable to eat, needle the middle of the spine. If the qi in the abdomen is excessive and distending, and leading to pain along the spine, although eating much food, but the body appears to be weak and thin, then first needle Pishu (BL20), later, needle the last rib." In this example, the bladder channel of the foot taiyang's back-shu point. Pishu (BL20), is paired with theliver channel of the foot jueyin's front-mu point, Zhangmen (LR14). This is the anterior-posterior pairing method.
Another combination of pairs is internal and external pairing in which the points are from two channels that are internally and externally connected. For example. The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing) Book Nine, Number Eight lists. "Lumbar pain. Cannot stand upright for a long time and bend back and forth, use Jingmen (GB25) and Xingjian (LR2)." Here, the gallbladder channel of foot shaoyang's front-mu point and the liver channel of the foot jueyin's ylng-spnng point are paired as an internal and external point combination.
Superior and inferior pair combination is another frequently found method of pairing. This is where a point above the lumbar or on the upper limb is paired with a poin! located below the lumbar or on the lower limb. Such as in The Systematic Classic of A cupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing)-Book Nine, Number Eleven, "Blockage of qi causing retention of urine, yellow urination,use Guanyuan (RN4) and Yinlingquan (SP9). The combination of Guanvuan (RN4) on the Ren channel paired with Yinlingquan (SP9). the he-sea point of the spleen channel of foot taiyin is a good example of superior and inferior pair combination.
Local and distal point paring is employed depending on the location of the disease. One point is selected at the location of the disease while the other is distal, further awav from the indicated point. This technique is illustrated in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing)'Book Twelve. Number Six which states for "Toothache. use Quanliao (SI18) and Erjian ( LI2 ) " Quanliao (SI18 ), a point on the small intestine channel of hand taiyang, located at the border of the cheek is paired with Erjian (LI2), the ying-spring point of the large intestine of the hand yangming, located at the tip of the finger. This is an example of local and distant point pairing.
There are, in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing),some cases where some points are regularly paired together. For example. Dadu (SP2) paired with Taibai (SP3) to treat heartburn from stomach qi is an example of selecting Dadu (SP2) and Taibai (SP3) pairing on the spleen channel of foot taiyin that is internally and externally connected to the stomach channel of foot yangming.
Another pairing is Taixi (KI3) with Chongyang (ST42) to treat spasm syndrome and "acute gastroenteritis, having bowel movement without any awareness " caused by deficiency of yang qi. Here, Taixi (KI3), the yuan- source point of the kidney channel of foot shaoyin, is used to solidify and strengthen congenital yang whereas Chongyang (ST42), the yuan-source point of the stomach channel of foot yangming, works to supplement the grain qi.
Therefore, the concept of dual points pairing has been understood and its importance recognized as early as The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen jiu jia yi jing), providing a structure and basic framework for the further development of "PairPomt.