A source point refers to the place where the inborn qi from the organs gathers and then is distributed throughout the body. There are twelve source points and all of them are located in the wrist and ankle. Stimulating on these points can have promising results for diseases in the corresponding organs.

A connecting point is where a meridian branch out the collaterals for communications. There are fifteen connecting points in the body; they are responsible for communicating the internal organs and the other meridians, and also pair two particular meridians in exterior-interior relationship. These connecting points are usually selected in conditions when symptoms of the both paired meridians are appeared. For example, lung meridian problems lead to coughing and wheezing and large intestine meridian problems may have toothache and neck stiffness; it is appropriate to select lie que (Lu 7) for these symptoms. The points are also used in conditions related to particular collaterals, and chronic stubborn organ diseases.

Clinically, selecting a source point of particular organ and in combination with its corresponding paired meridian's connecting point together can enhance the treatment efficacy. For example, a problem involving the lungs, physicians will combined use the lungs' source point tai yuan (Lu 9) and the large intestine's connecting point pain li (Li 6).

Table of the Source and Connecting Points on the Meridians