Method of Localizing Foot Acupoints in reflexology

Foot acupuncture is applied to special acupoints on the foot (FA) other than the acupoints of the 14 meridians to treat diseases of the entire body. As a branch of traditional acupuncture, it is adopted according to the meridianal theories and on the basis of the close relationships between foot and meridians, internal organs, and qi and blood to treat diseases by stimulating the circulation of meridianal qi, adjusting the functions of internal organs, tissues, qi and blood, enriching vital energy, and expelling pathogens.
Foot acupuncture is a simple and effective therapy with numerous indications.

Method of Localizing Foot Acupoints
The correct localization of foot acupoints is very important for obtaining good therapeutic effects.
   
Proportional bone measurement (Figs. 19 and 20):
   
(1) The distance between the heel border and the root of 3rd toe is divided into 10 cun (one cun is about 3.3 cm).
   
(2) The distance from tip of medial of lateral malleolus to medial or lateral border of foot is divided into 3 cun.
   
(3) The distance between medial border (dorsoplantar boundary) of first metatarsophalangeal joint and lateral border (dorsoplantar boundary) of 5th metatarsophalangeal joint on both dorsal and plantar side is divided into 5 cun.
   
(4) The widest part of the heel is divided into 3 cun.
   
These standards can be applied to all average-size adults of any age and either sex.
   
Surface anatomical landmarks:
The acupoints are located according to surface anatomical landmarks, including the creases of toes, tips of toes, metatarsophalangeal joints, capitula of metatarsal bones, terminals of creases between toes, tips of medial and lateral malleoli, and tuberosity of navacular bone. For example, the dysmenorrhea acupoint (FA-M 3) is 2 cun below the tip of medial malleolus; the bed-wetting acupoint(FA-P 21) is at the midpoint of the first crease of the little toe.