the ghost acupuncture points

The 13 GHOST Points in Acupuncture

The Acupuncture Ghost points have little to do with Halloween and everything to do with healing the mind!

The human psyche has always fascinated me. Over the years in my practice, when patients seek my help in treating their chronic physical ailments, 80% of the time the root cause is long standing emotional issues.

One of my long time patients who first came to balance her hormones during menopause. Now comes she monthly to keep her anxiety at bay, surprised me recently, while I was needling her. This was our conversation:

Me: Yesterday, I was teaching my students about a bunch of acupuncture points that are great for long standing emotional issues. I love that many students ask questions related to anger, guilt, shame, fear.

Her: How many points can help these emotions?

Me: Many, and they’re always individually based. For example, there is a point on the ankle area. We use it for long standing childhood trauma. It’s related to sexual abuse, leading to anxiety and/or depression as an adult.

Her: Could you do that point on me?

WOW! I looked at her, and waited for more. She kept quiet, so I needled BL 62 and it was so strong, she burst out crying! Then, she explained. A family member sexually abused her. When she was only a teenager. I had known this women for 6 years, and she never shared this before.

Acupuncture truly keeps amazing me, and Ghost points are very powerful in releasing emotional trauma. So I thought I should write a post on these fantastic acupuncture points! Enjoy and let me know what you think 🙂

And of course, keep rocking it using acupuncture Ghost points!

Clara
TCM Geek

☯️ If you enjoy my graphics, check out my AcuPoints Made Easy Book or Digital version.

 

The 13 Acupuncture GHOST Points

Ghost Points

Sun Si Miao “The King of Medicine” developed the 13 Ghost Points. Their purpose was treating mental disorders such as schizophrenia, manic behaviour & neurological disorders such as Epilepsy. In clinical practice, these ghost points are also helpful, in helping patients with long standing emotional trauma that are difficult to overcome.

According to Sin Si Miao “Ghosts” affecting the mind is actually excess phlegm misting the Heart mind. As we know excess phlegm can be the result of long standing emotional issues or trauma, weak Jing (Essence), diet, external pathogens, drugs, or shock.

All the Ghost points have applications that affect a patient’s emotional and psychological welfare and when used together they create a sense of peace, help centre and ground them.

 

How many Ghost points can be used per session?

A maximum of 3 Ghost points. Nonetheless, many practitioners differ in their approach 🙂

ST 6 – Ghost Point 

This point is  perfect for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Patients with PTSD have tendency to clench their jaw, so ST 6 acts as a jaw relaxer as well.

BL 62 – Ghost Point

In clinical practice I use Bl 62 for long standing childhood trauma related to sexual abuse, leading to anxiety and/or depression as an adult.

Li 11 – Ghost Point

Li 11 clear heat and balance the digestive system. It’s used for patient who like to be in control, and get diarrhea or suffers from IBS when  they feel out of control. 

SP 1 – Ghost Point

Bleeding SP 1 is generally used for patient who have poor body image and eat their feelings (as in Bulimia).

PC 7 – Ghost Point

This acupuncture point is the protector of the heart, which makes it the perfect point to needle for those who are emotionally upset (broken hearted) after the break up of a relationship.

PC 8 – Ghost Point

This is a good point for patient who have lost a sense of self, are manic with hallucinations, anxious and experience paranoia (Like in schizophrenia).

Lu 11 – Ghost Point

This acupuncture point is perfect, when a vow, contract, or an important agreement is broken, and anger results. Good during or after a nasty divorce, or a business partnership which goes sour.

Ren 1 – Ghost Point

For patient who are ashamed of their body and their sexuality, and especially for women after childbirth, who suffers from urinary incontinence and low libido, or can’t reach orgasm. 

Ren 24 – Ghost Point

This is a great acupuncture point for people who are always worried and are consumed by their dark thoughts for years. They don’t ever smile or laugh. 

Du 16 – Ghost Point

Because of its location, Du 16 is often overlooked because it is deemed a dangerous point. But it’s a good one for patient who resist change and are inflexible.

Du 23 – Ghost Point

For unresponsive people who have years of phlegm misting the mind, and become catatonic, such as Alzheimer’s patients in later stage.

Du 26 – Ghost Point

Often used for intergenerational trauma, which leads to spontaneous laughing with no reason.  

Yin Tang – Ghost Point

This 13th Ghost point is controversial. In some text, extra point Gui Feng (under the tongue) is deemed a Ghost point. However, because of its location, Yin Tang has been used instead. Both are used for enlightening the mind, seeking knowledge and wisdom.
Haaaaaaa! I NEED this point 🙂

Chinese medicine is so fascinating, don’t you think? I LOVE IT!

 

 

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Written by : AcuPro Academy (Clara)

82 Comments

  1. Alva February 9, 2018 at 12:47 am - Reply

    Clara, I need all your wisdom gathered to one sacred place. time to write a book no?

    • AcuPro February 9, 2018 at 9:05 am - Reply

      HA! Alva, maybe I should 🙂

      • Meche February 5, 2021 at 9:46 am - Reply

        Clara you are a good instructor, you way of teaching is wonderful, semple to understand, your graphics are superb easy to adentify and your leasons are worm and interesting because of your good heart, keep up with your good work

  2. Mirjam February 9, 2018 at 12:56 am - Reply

    Fantastic, my dear Clara! The way you explain every single point in your post is so clear and to the point, that anyone could use it their everyday life. I don’t treat emotional disease but thrue your post I can use them sometimes to support patients mind in other diseases wich make pains all over the body. Thanks Clara, you are really not just a good doctor of TCM, but also a very good person because you share your grate knowledge to the world. I listen your free webinars and read your articles and they are just GRATE. Where you find all this energy and peace in your heart that you are so good??? There are not so many people like you!!!Patients and students wich have You must be very happy! Congrats!!!

    • AcuPro February 9, 2018 at 9:05 am - Reply

      WOW Mirjam! You made my day 🙂
      Thank you for your kind & sweet comment. You rock!
      Hugs from Vancouver, Canada
      Clara

  3. Jacky Beagley February 9, 2018 at 8:34 am - Reply

    Thank you, I love your posts, so informative and so ‘human’ too. You are an inspiration 🙂

  4. Yvonne February 9, 2018 at 9:56 am - Reply

    Clara, thanks again for your clear post about this subject. Wright tot the point.
    You’re a great teacher.?

    • AcuPro February 9, 2018 at 10:13 am - Reply

      Thanks Yvonne 🙂

      • Syed Farooq Ahmed February 5, 2021 at 8:05 am - Reply

        You are just amazing. Thank you so much for your time and consideration and making everyone learn more about TCM

  5. Heidi Schanke February 10, 2018 at 12:57 am - Reply

    Thank you from an acupuncturist in Norway???. I really appreceate your posts. You are so inspiering and the humor you put in all this is awsome?

    • AcuPro February 16, 2018 at 2:51 pm - Reply

      Thank you Heidi, you’re so sweet!

  6. Sandy February 10, 2018 at 6:00 am - Reply

    Hi Clara, Thank you so much for your posts, I really look forward to them. You make acupuncture rock!

    • AcuPro February 16, 2018 at 2:51 pm - Reply

      Thank you Sandy! So sweet 🙂

      • Guy desire Noubouossie November 14, 2020 at 1:37 pm - Reply

        Ces points étaient jusque là inconnus dans nos pratiques .
        Des longues séances dacupuncture sans résultats palpants.
        Je pense Prof Clara devait avoir un prix Nobel en acupuncture!

        • AcuPro November 14, 2020 at 3:07 pm - Reply

          Hahaha vous êtes bon pour mon ego 🙂

  7. Marco February 10, 2018 at 8:49 am - Reply

    Great Article. I use those points everyday

  8. Satpal February 15, 2018 at 8:14 pm - Reply

    Fantastic, my dear Clara! The way you explain every single point in your post is so clear and to the point, that anyone could use it their everyday life. I don’t treat emotional disease but thrue your post I can use them sometimes to support patients mind in other diseases wich make pains all over the body. Thanks Clara, you are really not just a good doctor of TCM, but also a very good person because you share your grate knowledge to the world. I listen your free webinars and read your articles and they are just GRATE. Where you find all this energy and peace in your heart that you are so good??? There are not so many people like you!!!Patients and students wich have You must be very happy! Congrats!!!

    • AcuPro February 16, 2018 at 2:50 pm - Reply

      Thank you for your kind words Satpal 🙂
      You rock!

  9. Miloš Švantner February 16, 2018 at 12:36 am - Reply

    Clara, thanks you for very useful post
    and what is your clinic experiences about Extraordinary Meridians?
    M

    • AcuPro February 16, 2018 at 2:49 pm - Reply

      Yes! Check out my resource page, I have all the Extra Vessels blog post links in there 🙂
      I use them all the time in my practice!

  10. Marcela February 16, 2018 at 5:43 am - Reply

    Wow Clara,you touch my heart again!?
    … psychosomatic symptoms.for almost majority of the illnesses are in our … reality which is made by… our mind and emotions are the manner in which we respond to this reality..thank you !

    • AcuPro February 16, 2018 at 2:49 pm - Reply

      So true Marcela 🙂

    • Erik October 2, 2023 at 11:38 am - Reply

      Wow, thank you so much!
      I actually never thought about using Bladder 62 in that context!
      And I definitely need St6, Pc7 and ren24, anybody willing…? 😆

  11. nadom March 1, 2018 at 1:32 pm - Reply

    You are always amazing us dear Clara wonderful thoughts wonderful work

  12. Barry March 13, 2018 at 9:52 pm - Reply

    Thank you…I belive this to be the most outstanding tcm resource I’ve ever discovered. I’m so excited. Simply fantastic. ????

    • AcuPro March 15, 2018 at 9:54 am - Reply

      Thanks Barry! So happy to hear you’re now part of our TCM Rock Stars community 🙂
      Clara

  13. Elizabeth April 4, 2018 at 6:24 pm - Reply

    i Would buy your book not only for the knowledge but to support you and show gratitude for the work you’ve put into your slides and videos. Thank you thank you !

    • AcuPro April 9, 2018 at 4:01 pm - Reply

      You’re so welcome Elizabeth 🙂

  14. Preeti May 12, 2018 at 6:26 am - Reply

    You simplify concepts in a manner that helps ancient knowledge travel to the bedside patient care through the practitioner!! Brilliant work! Thank you so much!

  15. TITI June 12, 2018 at 12:37 pm - Reply

    Hola, acabo de descubrir tu pagina y me encanto!!!!, y gracias por compartir tus conocimiento,un abrazo – CHILE

  16. Honesta Jocelyn August 2, 2018 at 4:45 pm - Reply

    Thank you very much from TCM Indonesia. I recently read your write in this web. Allow me to your science…may we can meet at onetime ❤

    – Honesta Jocelyn –

    • Honesta Jocelyn August 2, 2018 at 5:46 pm - Reply

      Sorry, I mean, allow me to use your science…?

  17. Chris McAlister August 18, 2018 at 3:08 am - Reply

    Hi Clara! It’s pretty rare to come across someone else using the ghost points. As you say, everyone uses them in their own way. (Usually I simply follow the poem and the order in which the points are named). I’ve never heard of Yin Tang being used as a ghost point… on the other hand, the points under the tongue are really difficult to use. My solution has been to needle from under the chin in the direction of the points beneath the tongue. I call it “Snakebite” (just for fun but also because it has a certain power…)

    I very much like the way you’ve put your composite seasonal, element and meridian mages together. However, I cannot find one for late summer-earth, but maybe I simply missed it….?

    Also I am so very sensitive to the term “TCM”…. Oriental medicine is so much bigger than TCM, don’t you think?

    • AcuPro August 24, 2018 at 4:41 pm - Reply

      Hi Chris,

      I can see your passion for your craft through your words and I love that 🙂
      To answer your questions: I use TCM because I only was taught Chinese medicine, I wasn’t taught Japanese, Korean or Ayuverdic medicine. In Canada we all call it TCM.

      As I said in my post, Yin Tang is not a real Ghost point but sometimes it’s used in substitution for Gui Feng (under the tongue) because of it’s better location. I like what you do though, that’s great little pearl! Thanks for sharing!

      For the seasonal element about the Late summer, you’re so right, I have the picture on facebook but forgot to include it in the “All about the TCM Spleen”. I will remedy this today! Thanks for pointing it out 🙂
      Cheers!
      Clara

  18. Meirav September 25, 2018 at 11:33 am - Reply

    Thank you Clara .your posts are great .??I also think you should write a book .Meirav Israel?

    • AcuPro September 26, 2018 at 11:03 am - Reply

      I am actually in the process of doing just that 🙂

  19. Vinay Gupta December 2, 2018 at 6:04 am - Reply

    Thank you very much for your post on Ghost Points. One of patients don’t allow me to use DU 26. Please suggest some equivalent point. Eagerly waiting for your reply.

    • AcuPro December 21, 2018 at 5:05 pm - Reply

      Tough to say, depending on what you’re trying to do 🙂

  20. Akasha January 18, 2019 at 1:49 am - Reply

    I come from a family with so much pain: Alzheimer’s, paranoid schizophrenia, mental problems of all kinds… And I’m studying to be a certified acupuncturist. So happy to be able to help with these points. Thank you sooo much. <3 Looking forward to your book!

    • AcuPro February 3, 2019 at 11:49 am - Reply

      Keep rocking it with your TCM studies Akasha 🙂

  21. Gail Smith January 18, 2019 at 7:22 am - Reply

    I know I have asked this question before on some of your great information but I am not a TCM practitioner I am 5 Element.
    Can you tell me how are these points needled? Tonify? Sedate?
    Thanks for sharing your fantastic wisdom. I want that book too!

    • AcuPro February 3, 2019 at 11:49 am - Reply

      Hi Gail,

      It depends on each point, some’d need to you sedate and some you tonify 🙂

  22. Virginia March 28, 2019 at 5:48 pm - Reply

    I had a client ask for a point(s) for Previous Life Trauma (not transgenerational). Do you have any points or ideas for this? Thank you.

    • AcuPro April 8, 2019 at 5:10 pm - Reply

      Wow, that one stomped me…I’m not sure, sorry!

  23. Dr.Vijaya bhaskar Potuganti June 15, 2019 at 12:50 am - Reply

    Thank you madam. You are one of the icon in TCM world. I am interested in buying some of the books which you have recommended in your previous mails. Pls guide us in regarding this. Thanks and regards Dr.Vijaya bhaskar Potuganti Ph.D. in Medical Anatomy & M Acu.

    • AcuPro July 12, 2019 at 1:58 pm - Reply

      You can buy books on Amazon, or eBay…

  24. Ike July 13, 2019 at 2:27 am - Reply

    Thank you so mich for your posts !

    • AcuPro July 17, 2019 at 2:40 pm - Reply

      You’re so welcome Ike 🙂

  25. Nuria July 26, 2019 at 8:36 am - Reply

    God Bless you for sharing your knowledge with all of us. Thanks so much, Clara. I wish you good Shen, good Qi and good Jing. Best Regards from Spain!

  26. April May 2, 2020 at 11:10 pm - Reply

    Are there any issues related to Du 10-13 or BL 41-42 or SI 13?

  27. Kiera October 16, 2020 at 3:46 pm - Reply

    This is amazing information!
    Do you have any other points you can recommend for sexual abuse?
    Thanks

    • AcuPro October 16, 2020 at 5:13 pm - Reply

      Happy you benefitted from my post Kiera 🙂
      The points would depend on each patient and their emotional attachment to the trauma, what emotions comes out and what physical symptoms stem from it. So sorry, it’s very specific to each case.

  28. Elizabeth October 16, 2020 at 4:21 pm - Reply

    Wow, Clara! I have so many emotional issues tied up in my body. I my talk to the student practitioners at school to see if they would needle Ren 1 for me. I am so tired of incontinence! I never would have thought to ask if not for this post! Un grand merci!

    • AcuPro October 16, 2020 at 5:14 pm - Reply

      So happy I could point you in the right direction 🙂
      Stay safe and wishing a fast healing.
      xo

      • Alex April 4, 2021 at 3:42 am - Reply

        Thanks Clara, I think you have a divine gift! Your words are so clear and leave me with a sense of hope for our future! That might sound dramatic, but it’s true.??

        • AcuPro Academy (Clara) April 8, 2021 at 10:17 am - Reply

          OH wow Alex! YOU made my day ? Thank you!

          • Wills April 24, 2021 at 3:12 am

            Thanks Clara, this a wonderful clear and simple way to teach. You have a good heart.keep It up. Nothing can take away Joy in TCM

  29. Wills April 24, 2021 at 3:14 am - Reply

    Thanks Clara, this a wonderful clear and simple way to teach. You have a good heart.keep It up. Nothing can take away Joy in TCM

  30. Mariya malik July 31, 2022 at 9:03 pm - Reply

    Hi. If I wanted to do all
    these points for myself, I have a lot of lot of emotional problems. Which points do I start off with ,are these 13 points done in a specific order ? I found a document telling these points in three trinities.do we do the first trinity first then second then third? Thanks for Ur guidance in advance.

    • AcuPro Academy (Clara) August 4, 2022 at 4:05 pm - Reply

      Because I don’t know your health problems, i can’t advise you. NEVER EVER DO ALL these points at once 🙏
      I would recommend you see a qualified acupuncturist in your area to help 💜

  31. Imar September 24, 2022 at 8:20 pm - Reply

    Dear Clara, you are wonderful teacher. I’m fpllowing your Ig also. I have a question, could I put needles on al those points in 1 session?

    • AcuPro Academy (Clara) October 21, 2022 at 4:33 pm - Reply

      No, never! Read the beginning when I talk about 3 ghost points maximum in one sessions 🙏💙

  32. Imar September 25, 2022 at 6:56 pm - Reply

    and interesting story yuo’ve shared, so what happen with that woman. Has she been feeling better now?

  33. Enric February 10, 2023 at 8:40 pm - Reply

    Good Morning impresive information. I am an acupuncturist for many years and I am interested in how to treat emotional trauma. I have notions about the Ghost point of Sun Simiao, but never found the information you mention about them. I would be very grateful if you can tell me please where you got the information you are talking about. It is is not that I don’t believe you, don’t get me wrong. My idea is to go to the source and get my own conclusions.

    Thank you very much

    Enric Muniente

    • AcuPro Academy (Clara) February 14, 2023 at 4:11 pm - Reply

      I appreciate your questions, and I’m not offended 🙂
      Unfortunately, my information comes from my TCM college class notes from my TCM teachers (who are from China).

  34. Enric March 6, 2023 at 2:52 am - Reply

    Thank you very much Clara. Indeed, there is lots of valuable information not available in the West.
    This is that kind of information that is worth 1000 gold ducats.

    Really Tank you

    Enric Muniente

  35. Janine February 29, 2024 at 12:41 am - Reply

    Thanks a lot Clara for your inspirating explanations. I can use this very good in my lessons Do-In yoga.

    • Melissa (Clara's Rock Star Assistant) February 29, 2024 at 10:59 am - Reply

      So happy you found this useful and are taking it into your yoga! 🧘‍♀️☯️

  36. Kotni shankar Rao January 24, 2026 at 11:53 pm - Reply

    Hi Clara mam enjoyed your vedio about 8 extra meridian explanation.

    • Melissa | Team AcuPro January 26, 2026 at 11:16 am - Reply

      It’s such a great video! Glad you enjoyed it, Kotni 🏵️

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