The Shu-Transporting cycle
The Shu-transporting points together with the Yuan-source points and the Luo-connecting points belong to the oldest point categories used in traditional chinese medicine. These include a group of 66 acupuncture points that are located on the upper and lower extremities on the body.
The flow of Qi and Blood in the meridians is often compared with the metaphore of a water flow, starting at a well, forming a spring, gathering water in a stream, growing into a river and finally flowing into sea. This is why the names of the Shu-transporting points are Jing-well, Ying-spring, Shu-stream, Jing-river and He-sea.
| Stem | Element | Meaning |
| Jing-well | Wood (on Yin channels) Metal (on Yang meridians) |
a deep well |
| Ying-spring | Fire (on Yin channels) Water (on Yang meridians) |
a tiny water stream |
| Shu-stream | Earth (on Yin channels) Wood (on Yang meridians) |
a fast mountain stream |
| Jing-river | Metal (on Yin channels) Fire (on Yang meridians) |
a broad river |
| He-sea | Water (on Yin channels) Metal (on Yang meridians) |
mouth of a river, the sea |
