Acupoints

Behind the Scenes: Unveiling a Strong Maintenance Acupoint

The Wai Ling acupoint helps relieve abdominal discomfort and restore flow when energy becomes stagnant.
Behind the Scenes: Unveiling a Strong Maintenance Acupoint
ST26 Outer Mound (Wai Ling) The Epoch Times
Moreen Liao
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
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checkCircleIconMedically reviewed byJingduan Yang, M.D.
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In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), people engage with acupuncture or acupressure in two main ways: reactively—when something goes wrong and needs fixing, and proactively—aiming to cultivate long-term health. The proactive path is known as “yang shen,” which translates to “nurturing life” and spans everything from herbal teas to daily acupressure.

Many begin their TCM journey from illness, but gradually, they discover the beauty of maintenance. Outer Mound (Wai Ling, ST26) quietly embodies the transition from symptom-chasing to whole-body support. If you’re looking to build a deeper relationship with your health, this point deserves a spot on your radar.

A Systemic View of a ‘Minor’ Point

First mentioned in the “Ling Shu” (“The Spiritual Pivot”)—an early acupuncture classic—Wai Ling rarely makes the top 10 lists of acupuncture’s greatest hits. Yet, when you stop viewing acupoints as isolated pressure spots and start seeing them as part of a larger energetic circulatory system, Wai Ling’s value becomes clear.
Moreen Liao
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
Moreen was born into a family with a lineage of four generations of traditional Chinese medicine doctors and professors. She was Dean of the Natural Therapies Institute in Sydney, Australia. Drawing on her family heritage, she created a certified organic wellness brand, and co-founded the largest Chinese medical image encyclopedia online.