ACUPUNCTURE
Pu Can: TCM Acupoint Guide
PUCAN
Name
Pu Can (Pucan)
Location
On the lateral side of the foot, 1.5 cun inferior to UB-60 Kunlun, in a tender depression on the calcaneum. Note: the distance between the lateral malleolus and the sole of the foot is 3 cun; locate this point midway between UB-60 Kunlun and the sole.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Transverse insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Meeting point of the Yang Qiao channel
Actions
- Releases the sinews
- Activates the channel
- Alleviates pain
Indications
- Lower back and leg pain
- Pain at the bottom of the foot
- Paralysis of the lower limb
- Beriberi
- Knee inflammation
- Atrophy of the foot and lower leg muscles
- Drop foot
- Headache
- A heavy head
- Heaviness of the head like a stone
- Leg qi
- Sudden turmoil disorder with cramps
- Swelling of the knee
- All problems of the lower extremities
- Cannot raise the knee
- Muscular atrophy
- Weakness of the extremities
- Pain in the heel
- Seizures
- Muscular tetany
- Convulsions
- Muscle spasms due to severe vomiting and diarrhea
- Mania
- Manic raving
- Seeing ghosts
- Loss of consciousness
- Childhood epilepsy
- Vomiting
- Turbid, painful urinary dysfunction
- Fainting
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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