©2021 Kiiko Matsumoto Style of Acupuncture Turning Point Webinar 2021

A Manual of the Teachings of

Kiiko Matsumoto Kiiko Matsumoto Style of Acupuncture™/

Kiiko Style of Acupuncture™

by
Kiiko Matsumoto

Notes: Trademark for Kiiko Matsumoto Style of Acupuncture and Kiiko Style of Acupuncture are filed with the UPTSO,
TM pending final approval. All rights reserved 2020.

All rights reserved. The information within this document(s) contains foundational knowledge of the teachings of Kiiko
Matsumoto that can be found in Kiiko Matsumoto Clinical Strategies: In the Spirit of Master Nagano, Volumes 1 and 2
(copyright). All new information and ideas expressed within this document(s) are the sole ownership and authorship of
Kiiko Matsumoto. These documents and the information contained within these documents may not be copied,
reproduced, stored, taught, or transmitted in any form electronically, mechanically, or recordings without written
permission from its author, Kiiko Matsumoto.

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Abdominal and neck reflexes in Kiiko Matsumoto Style (KMS)

For more info see: KIIKO MATSUMOTO’S CLINICAL STRATEGIES VOL. 1 (available on kiikomatsumoto.com)

Heart/insomnia
Area of CV14
Liver Spleen
Under right costal Under left costal
margin margin

Stomach
Ren12 1
5

Lung/Immune 2
St26, St27 area Oketsu (Liver)
St26, St27 and Ki15 4
area 3

1. Top of SCM (C1 Sublux./ENT)

Tan Tien (Kidney) 2. Mid-SCM (Neurological)
Ren6, Ren5 and Ren4 area + Ren9 Adrenals (Kidney)
3. Bottom of the SCM (Thyroid)
pulsing and Sp20 reflex Below Ki16 (on both sides)
4. Above St-12 (Neurovascular compression)
5. Tw-16/East-Wind - behind SCM (Immune)

Fire Points – see page 440 of Kiiko Matsumoto’s Clinical Strategies Vol 1

We have many important points located below the elbow and below the knee on each channel (i.e. Five-Element points
etc). Master Nagano said that we should not use more than one or two of these points per channel on each side. If you
use too many per channel you’re diluting the effectiveness of your treatment – like having multiple people speaking over
each other to deliver a message.
In choosing which points to include, Master Nagano had a rule: Fire points take priority! This means, that we always check
the Fire point first. When painful, your choice of points below the knee or elbow, should always be Metal + Water and no
other points on that channel, on that side, would be added.

• Check Fire-points using 3kg of direct pressure. (Ki-2 use sliding pressure instead of direct)
• When painful, treat the corresponding Metal + Water points to release pressure pain on
the Fire point.
When multiple channels present with pressure pain on Fire-points, start with the “deepest
organ/level” and once released, recheck to see if other Fire-points responded too. For
example, if Fire-points for Kidney, Liver & Spleen are all positive, start with Kidney then
recheck to see if the other ones changed (often they will).

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Headaches

Quick summary of most common headache patterns:

Temples Occipital Sphenoid

• Fast pulse: TH-5 • BP points bone
+ GB-41 • Hormone (Bl-66, • Ki-9 + Ki-27 +
• Normal pulse: SI-3, etc) TH-9
TH-9 + GB-40 • Basilar artery tx • Chin point

Above GB-20 pain Whole head

temples • UB-66 pain
• Immune points • Oketsu Kai • Ba Fang
(forearm) + Ki-6 • GB-14 (test up & • Ren-4
+ TH-16 + Du-14 down direction)

Head injury

Important reflexes: Du-20 (check for pain, heat and/or “mushy”/gel like feeling); check
site of impact & contrecoup; also check neck. Check and release oketsu (abdomen)

Treatment strategies (to release Du-20)

• Release oketsu (abdomen): Liv-4 & Lu-5 on the left
• Sp-6 + Sp-9 + Pericardium treatment. If Pc-8 is free of pain, you may choose the Pc
point that best fits the case… Pc-6 is usually a good place to start). These points should
reduce Du20 presentation.
• Du-2
Contrecoup
• Insomnia point (bottom of the heel)

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Posterior neck strategies

Right side: Lr-1

C3 Left side: Sp-1
Basilar artery congestion
St-9
Du line - treat bilateral Ipsilateral
Huato Jiaji - ipsilateral C4 St-9

Ki-10 + Lr-8 + TH-9 Redirect

w/ “I Hi Kon” (Vol 1 p.167) toward clavicle
C5 Ipsilateral
SI-16

Transitional vertebraes - one is "fixed" the

C6 C7 other has more mobility

It’s fairly common to see Ipsilateral Ht-3

patients who had neck
problems (or surgery) Immune points (support)
develop lower back pain
at L5 or vice versa (Also consider that L5 represents Tan Tien
on the back. This may prove to be a reliable
L5 S1 strategy to treat L5/S1 & therefore help
C6/C7)

Back treatment “rules”

Take caution with patients that have a rapid pulse and avoid needle and o’kyu moxa on:
ê Du line at L4 level and above
ê Huato Jiaji & inner UB line at L4 & above
d

Needle direction for the back-treatment points:

ê L4 and above on the Du line – 45o upward
ê L4 and above for Huato Jiaji points – 45o upward and 45o to skin
ê L5 needle down

Generally helpful points & ideas:

ê Ren-12 – important for any neck problem & for any disc problem
ê Ah-shi points on the sacrum (Du line) for any problem in the spine
ê Back treatments are a “continuation” of what you discovered/treated on the front
ê Back treatments are different from the front in that we are looking to needle tight, slightly painful spots
(if the area is overly sensitive, you still have to use distal points to release it before direct treatment)

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Back reflex zones – use to continue the Zong-Fu support from the front

Heart area:: Lung area::

T5 and edge of left scapula Check rhomboids

Psychosomatic area: Liver area:

T3-T7 Check area of T7, T8 and T9
Gall Bladder:
T2, T10

Spleen/Sugar area: Kidney::

Above and below T11. Check QL muscle
Above and below T12.
Du/center line takes priority. Adrenaline area: check
Huato Jiaji are next. L2/L3 level between
Huato Jiaji and Shu
Master Nagano also used “sugar points” to
treat muscle problems & movement
problems (upper and lower limb). Tan Tien area:
L5
Sugar presentation also important to include
Left side Spleen Shu – Bl-20
if HJJ & Shu area fine

Additional & alternate reflex zones

T5 – can also represent stomach reflex; also considered the most important scoliosis reflex zone
T7 – also related to the diaphragm and any sleep and/or blood problem (use third toe points to clear)
T9 – important for patients who present with muscle atrophy
L1 – important for problems in the groin
L2 – important for patients with history of near-death experiences (use “heart of sole” to clear)
L3 – important for hip problems

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Quick guide to points & strategies beyond Zong-Fu

Use the suggestions below to see if they also clear abdominal reflexes (indicating the root of the pattern that causes
patient’s symptoms) OR use them to “clean up” any remaining pain after you addressed the constitution and cleared the
abdomen.

Gluteus medius pain

Release with SI-11 and/or area
under scapular spine. Up to 3
points, needled upward. Also
used for lymphatic treatments Triceps brachii
Whole area of release area
& released deltoid.
posterior iliac crest
L5 level Release with
needle down immune points.

Piriformis area SI Joint nodules –

Release with GB-31 area needle directly.
or GYN treatments.

Severe or generalized pain including pain related to cancer and pain flare-ups in patients with SLE (lupus):
ê Bl-2 & Yu Yao
ê “Insomnia point” – located at the bottom of the heel
ê DLPFC – especially important in chronic pain cases & when people limit activity due to fear of pain

Tendon involvement including pain in cases of Achilles tendon injury, carpal tunnel, etc.:
ê Lr-8
ê Lr-8 + Gb-34 on the opposite side of wrist with carpal tunnel
ê o’kyu moxa around the tendon area can help

Bone pain including arthritis, pain from a bone fracture or break, bone spurs etc.:
ê Ki-7 + Ki-27 + Lu-5 + Bl-11 (for Bl-11 find a tender spot in the area and needle down)
ê Same side as the bone spur/break/sprain or bilateral if systemic like osteopenia
ê Kiiko-sensei finds that magnets, instead of press-tack-needles, are better in these cases

Muscle pain including descriptions of pain that include: sore, feels-like-a-bruise, achy, cramping
ê Sp-3.2
ê Oddi
ê “Sugar points” on the back (T11 – L1) – o’kyu moxa almost always improves results

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Back pain

The chart below provides some suggestions for common back pain patterns. While this may be helpful in a lot of patients,
keep in mind that key to a good treatment is approaching each patient individually. Make sure to check and verify through
palpation before applying treatments.

SCOLIOSIS DISC ISSUES L4 to S1 SCIATICA

Ki-16 – key sciatica

When upper curve Ren-12 – essential Sp-9 – essential
is to the right*: point for any disc point joint point. Make sure
problem. problems. to release pressure
TH-5 + Lu-7 + pain on Ki-16 first.
GB-39 – all three Center line on Sp-9 + GB-34 – is a
points on the right. sacrum – find great combo for L4 GB-31 – piriformis
tender spots, level. release point.
Ki-7 on the left. needle shallow &
*reverse if curve is to up toward head. Tan Tien & Adrenal Check Bl & GB fire
the left are common points.
patterns.

Knee pain

There are a few key strategies that can help release knee pain. You’ll find that these can work well as “clean-up” treatment
(after you’ve addressed the Zong Fu/constitution). In some cases, testing these points will prove to also release the
abdominal reflexes. (For a more comprehensive list of strategies for knee pain, see Vol. 2 of Kiiko Matsumoto’s book).

Medial knee pain:

ê Lr-3 (against channel) + Ht-5 or Ht-6
ê Sp-4 (opposite to the painful knee) + Pc-6

Lateral knee pain:

ê Shao Yang (TH & GB)

Below patella (center of the knee)

ê Stomach Qi line
ê Immune

“Sugar points” on the back can often help reduce pain as well as improve flexion
ROM of the knee. Gently flex the knee and compare to the other side to see if these points help.

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Chronic pain strategies beyond Zong Fu

Addressing chronic pain means, in an oversimplified term, “resetting” and helping “heal” the nervous system – treating
the site of injury if not enough. Patients dealing with chronic pain often experience: anxiety and other Shen disturbances;
insomnia; fear of pain leading to decline of function; pain amplification & oversensitivity to touch/palpation.

Treatment strategies:
ê Shao Yang: rapid pulse use TH-5 & GB-41
ê Adrenal
ê Tan Tien
ê Trochanter treatment
ê DLPFC & other scalp points

DLPFC and GB line on the scalp:

When looking at the GB channel in the hairline, all texts written after the Ming Dynasty
(including our modern acupuncture point manuals) describe GB-15 0.5 cun inside the
hairline and measured from the center of the pupil (purple line in diagram). Once we
establish the location of GB-15 the points that follow are on the same line and 1 cun
apart from each other. The center of the patient’s pupil, when they are looking straight
ahead, creates the reference point for the channel line.

During the Han Dynasty, the GB channel was instead measured from the outer canthus of the eye (green line in diagram).
Some modern texts describe the location of GB-13 on this line, but follow the pupil line for GB15-17.

Clinical application:
Consider treating the DLPFC area in the following cases:
ê Chronic pain patients and those with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) diagnosis.
ê Patients with signs of Shen disturbance including anxiety, depression, PTSD, “or “constantly-worrying-type”
ê Patients with a history of injury to the area of DU20 through GB18
ê Stubborn pressure pain along the right side ST26-28 area with digestive disorders (Crohn’s, colitis, IBS, etc.)
GB-16 specifically is useful for:
ê Patients that have had injuries to the eye - bone around the eye
ê Headaches during menopause that present with pain at the eyebrows or below

OFC (area of brain behind the orbital bone) is also related to sugar
imbalance and fat metabolism. Use this point for patients that
present with IBS and/or are diabetic and/or have high cholesterol.
NEEDLING TIPS
• Left side is most important for chronic pain presentations (but bilateral treatment may be helpful for some)
• THE PATIENT SHOULD NOT FEEL THE NEEDLE - the effect of these points is much greater when comfortable!
• Needle away from the face in an oblique/transverse angle to the scalp
• If the area has dent or is “gummy”/”squishy” or radiating heat – the patient is a good candidate and will most
likely have a really good response

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Additional ideas to support treatments for pain

ADDITIONAL SCALP POINTS:

• TH-19 (“rest the skull”) use for patients experiencing nightmares, insomnia, overthinking
causing insomnia
• TH-18 use in cases of physical and/or emotional sensitivity, spasms as well as those who
are overly sensitive to palpation of the Du Mai. (Look for spongy or puffy area when ear is
folded back.)
JUE POINTS:
Choose the points that best correspond with the Master Maruyama explored the idea of jue and created this
patient’s constitution or their symptoms. Here are map. (At the joint between the phalangeal and metatarsals).
some examples:
• Shao Yin (Heart/Kidney) – adrenal type
patients; patients with osteoarthritis; thyroid Shao Yin – Heart/Kidney
disorders
• Tai Yin (Lung/Spleen) – blood vessel problems; Tai Yin – Lung/Spleen
muscle soreness or pain; repeated episodes of
Jue Yin – Pericardium/Liver
bronchitis; joint pain everywhere (lymph =
Pericardium/Liv
spleen); inner knee eye problems Yang Ming – Large intestine/Stomach
• Zhu Yin (Pericardium/Liver) –gout; taking lots
of medication (Kidney may be involved too – Shao Yang – Triple warmer/Gall bladder
both Liver and Kidney are detox organs);
fasciitis; connective tissue disorders Tai Yang – Small intestine/Bladder
Needle in the direction that reduces symptomatic presentation. Very important to add o’kyu moxa.

TROCHANTER TREATMENT:
The trochanter-treatment releasees the rhomboid area (which is also the “psychosomatic reflex”) and is a very effective
way to balance the autonomic nervous system which is a big part of treating chronic pain.

• Look for sore/tender spots around the anterior

Patient’s area border of the greater trochanter – up to 3 points.
of tightness
Repeat on a second line just distal to the first (like a
rainbow moving away from bone). Do not needle
center of the trochanter.
• Needle the spots that are most effective at
releasing tightness on the rhomboid on the same side.
• To further release the area of the lower back and
hip, palpate along the PSIS and iliac crest and using very
shallow insertion, needle tender spots – usually about a 10° angle toward the spine. (See orange needle in figure
above).

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