Ten Celestial Stems
What it is and how to use it
The theory of Ten Celestial Stems is a part of Chinese astrology, used to mark cycles of time along with what is called the Twelve Earthly Branches. It also represents a development of Five Phase theory, splitting each phase into Yin and Yang designations. When applied to acupuncture meridians, the Ten Stems represent Yin-Yang Five Phases and the Twelve Branches denote the meridians themselves. I first heard of the application of this concept to acupuncture in the book Five Elements, Ten Stems by Matsumoto and Birch, where there is a more detailed explanation of it; for further reading, I recommend that book.
The application of Ten Stems in Japanese meridian therapy (JMT) comes primarily from Nan Jing (Classic of Difficulties) Chapter 33:
“Yi Jiao (the Yin stem and musical tone associated with Wood) is the softness (Yin partner) of Geng (the Yang stem of Metal). The larger meaning of Yi Geng is Yin and Yang, and the smaller meaning is husband and wife… Xin Shang (the Yin stem and musical tone associated with Metal) is the softness (Yin partner) of Bing (the Yang stem of Fire). The larger meaning of Xin Bing is Yin and Yang, and the smaller meaning is husband and wife… “
So according to this passage, there is a Yin Yang relationship between the stems and branches. Yin Wood and Yang Metal are paired in this passage, as are Yin Metal and Yang Fire.
The Ten Stems, their names in Chinese, and their Phase and Yin Yang designations are as follows:
In the passage above from Nan Jing, the Ten Stems are paired by splitting the list in two and juxtaposing the first and second halves of the list as follows
As an aside, this passage also gives an answer to the frequently asked question of why the Five Phase points begin with Wood on the Yin meridians and Metal on the Yang Meridians. The question itself is answered in Nan Jing 64, but the fuller explanation leads back to Nan Jing 33. Since once of the tenets of JMT is that “Yin leads and Yang follows”, and Wood Yin is paired with Metal Yang, the cycle plays out in the designation of the points:
Anyway, within the passage from Nan Jing is the phrase, “the smaller meaning is husband and wife”. The “Husband” controls the “Wife”, so to speak; given the maxim that Yang is always in Excess and Yin in Deficiency, means that the Yang meridians on the Overacting Cycle are the meridians which are actually in Excess and need to be drained, rather than the Yin meridians.
GB (Yang Wood) Overacts on SP (Yin Earth)
LI (Yang Metal) Overacts on LR (Yin Wood)
SI (Yang Fire) Overacts on LU (Yin Metal)
UB (Yang Water) Overacts on HT (Yin Fire)
ST (Yang Earth) Overacts on KI (Yin Water)
So, rather than the Five-Phase scenario of SP deficiency with LR excess, AKA Liver Invading the Spleen, it is the Gallbladder which is overacting on the Spleen and which needs to be drained. The whole system, then, looks like this:
I haven’t actually seen much (if any) specific reference to Ten Stem theory in other books on JMT, and my teachers never really mentioned it; it made sense to me, though, and has been helpful in clarifying certain issues, such as how to integrate the Yang meridians into the Sho. I found I could set up a sort of protocol for Root Treatment on both Yin and Yang meridians. Once one learns these relationships, one can treat the Mother-Child meridians in the Sho, add points for the Ten Stem meridians and have a complete treatment. In fact my interest in it became renewed when, while doing community acupuncture, I was searching for a more efficient way to determine the Sho in a shorter period of time. I realized that the symptoms and other examination findings involving Yang meridians can be followed backward to point to the Sho; if there are symptoms specific to one Yang meridian, one can just treat that meridian and the Mother-Child pair for the Yin meridian that it is overacting on.
Though it sounds complicated, it really isn’t, once one has learned the sequence. For me it is very quick to sort things out using this method, though it is true that I have been using it for a long time.
What does it look like in practice? Here are some sample point combinations that I use, with some examples of working backward from the symptom:
Example 1
Symptom: Scapular pain; Small Intestine meridian (overacts on Lung) involved.
Lung Sho: LU5, LU7, SP6, SP9, SI7
Example 2
Symptom: Katakori (Stiffness in shoulders, especially upper trapezius); Gallbladder meridian (overacts on Spleen) involved.
Spleen Sho: SP6, SP9, P3, H5, GB34
Example 3
Symptom: Hypertension with flushed face and headache; Large Intestine meridian (overacts on Liver) involved.
Liver Sho: LR3, LR8, K3, K10, LI11 (or LI4)
Example 4
Symptom: Diabetic disease with hunger and thirst; Stomach meridian (overacts on Kidney) involved.
Kidney Sho: K6, K10, LU5, LU7, ST44
Note that these are five-point combinations. In a lot of cases, I would needle these bilaterally, which would take me through a two fivers or a ten pack of DBC needles. I will either quit there or use another pack to treat symptoms.
Note: this newsletter is for information purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please seek the opinion of a health care professional for any specific medical issues you may have.
References
Matsumoto, K., & Birch, S. (1983). Five elements and ten stems: Nan Ching theory, diagnostics and practice. Paradigm Publications.