Common symptoms of Yin deficiency include:
- Heat in the palms and soles (手足心熱, sujok-sim-yeol) 🔥
- Night sweats (盜汗, dohan)
- Dry mouth and throat, constipation
- Dizziness, insomnia 😴
To treat this Yin deficiency, Korean medicine employs a Bo-eum (補陰) treatment, which aims to replenish the deficient Yin energy. Bo-eum treatment primarily utilizes herbal medicine (e.g., Yukmijihwang-tang), pharmacopuncture, and acupuncture. Particularly for Parkinson’s disease, some research results indicate that integrative therapy combining herbal medicine and acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms. 🔬
The Roles of the Acupuncture Points Sameum-gyo (SP6), Taegye (KI3), and Eumneungcheon (SP9)
The points you inquired about—Sameum-gyo (三陰交, SP6), Taegye (太谿, KI3), and Eumneungcheon (陰陵泉, SP9)—are important acupoints frequently used in Bo-eum treatment.
- Sameum=gyo (SP6): Located about four finger widths (approximately 3 chon) above the tip of the medial malleolus (inner ankle bone). It is the point where the three Yin meridians of the Liver (肝), Spleen (脾), and Kidney (腎) intersect. It is widely used for gynecological issues, as well as digestive and urogenital system disorders.
- Taegye (KI3): Located in the depression between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon. It is the Source point (原穴, Won-hyeol) of the Kidney meridian, which tonifies Kidney energy. As the Kidneys store essence (精, Jeong) and govern Yin, the Taegye point plays a crucial role in supplementing Yin energy.
- Eumneungcheon (SP9): Located in the depression on the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia. It is the Sea point (合穴, Hap-hyeol) of the Spleen meridian. It helps eliminate dampness (濕, Seup) from the body, strengthens spleen function, and promotes the smooth metabolism of essential fluids.
Applying acupuncture to these points can be effective in supplementing Yin energy, promoting the smooth flow of Qi and blood, and thereby alleviating symptoms like tremors. However, the same treatment is not applied identically to all patients; personalized treatment must be provided based on the patient’s constitution and symptoms.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is essential to receive an accurate diagnosis from a qualified practitioner.