08/10/2026
4 Gates Never Fail.
I saw this on a social media post recently, and it got me thinking.
There are various ways we can decide on a combination of points for a patient, but Chinese Medicine should be individialized, and based on each person's pattern of imbalance.
The 4 Gates combination of Liver 3 Tai Chong and Large Intestine 4 He Gu is a widely known, classic point combination, commonly employed for pain management, headaches, and more beyond this. Even if your issue is pain management or headaches, this is definitely not the only option, and therefore possibly not the best option either - depending on your circumstances.
I'll admit I did use this combination on myself last week, on this basis:
1. I had some period cramps, which I don't normally have = pain
2. Menstrual cramps can be associated with stagnant Liver Qi in Chinese Medicine (amongst other things) = Liver channel
3. As far as the 5 Elements go, the Elements I resonate most strongly with are Metal and Wood = Li is a Metal channel, Liv is a Wood channel
So, the clinical rationale for using these points on myself isn't bad; symptoms lead us to Chinese Medicine theory and Element connections.
Would I use this on every patient with period cramps? Not a chance.
Have I used it to great effect on some patients? Absolutely.
Traditional acupuncture offers so much more than just a couple of points used over and over again.
