THE 3 EMPRESSES

I had the great privilege to work with Dr. Miriam Lee from 1978-1981 in
California. I had just come back from studying in China, and was full of theory,
but had little practical experience. Dr. Lee had studied with Master Tung of
Taiwan. And though she incorporated many Tung points, her practice was
firmly grounded in TCM.
One of her favorite point combinations, which has also become one of my
favorite, is the 3 Emperor Dao Ma (combination of 3 points). Miriam used to
pronounce Emperor as Empire, so her students would call them 3 Empire
too. If you look up their indications in the various Tung books available today,
you will find a huge list of Western symptoms. But the most important use of
these 3 points is for Yin Deficiency, especially dual Kidney/Liver Yin and Blood
Deficiency.
Now its well known in TCM that you cannot tonify Blood or Yin directly with
acupuncture. But you CAN open the body to receive Yin by reducing
Dampness, Heat, Wind, etc. Its my understanding that this is what these points
do best. They free the Six Stagnations, so Yin can be received by the body.
Miriam never actually said this, but it was somehow implied or transmitted in
working with her. And over 30 years, it has been my observation and
understanding. On a typical day in my clinic, I use this combination of points at
least twice.
Dr. Lee used to use these combinations of points often, and then prescribe for the
patient, a large dose of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan pills, sometimes as much as 80
pills three times a day! Though this is a cloying formula, it was rare to find any
of her patients having any problems with this dosage. I think the 3 Empresses
(as I like to call them after all theyre for Yin Xu) prepares the body to receive
the large dose of Liu Wei Di Huang.
Now for their location. (See diagram) You would think about such important
points there would be widespread agreement concerning their location. But there
is not. When I first started observing with Dr. Lee, I was trailing behind her,
secretly measuring with my fingers her point locations. And I noticed that,
especially with these 3 points, their location would differ up to 1 cun! It was fun
to see new students to her clinic with the same baffled expression on their faces,
secretly checking Miriams point location.
The truth: you have to feel for these points. The 3 Empresses are, more or less,
along the lower Spleen meridian. The most distal point Ren Huang could be said
to be at Spleen 6, or at K7 or 5 fen posterior to Spleen 6. The most proximal
point Tian Huang Fu is approximately 1.5 cun distal to Spleen 9. Dr. Tan has
written it is best to find the A Shi point in this area, and I agree.
The middle point Di Huang is approximately at Spleen 7, but Miriam usually put
it halfway between Ren Huang and Tian Huang Fu. Sometimes I substitute
Spleen 9 for Tian Huang Fu, when the patient has a lot of Damp Stagnation. And

I often use K7 instead of Ren Huang for men. And Ill often leave out Di Huang
using just the 2 Empresses.
I hope this small article has been of some help in your clinical practice. Feel free
to contact me with any comments or questions.
-Robert Abrahamson OMD, LAc
2005