The Cun Measurement And Point Location

A Cun is effectively just another term for an inch, and it is a vital reference for locating acupoints and being successful in the art of acupuncture. To identify and understand acupoints, you must first interpret cun and learn how to measure the body using it. 

How big is a Cun?

One Cun is the equivalent of the width of your thumb; a Cun measurement is relative to body size – since we are all different in shape and size, it makes sense that our Cun measurements will fluctuate too. 

How to locate acupoints, ensuring to reference cun in relation to a visible marker

For instance, ‘pericardium 6‘ will be found 2 Cun proximal to the wrist crease on the palm side of the forearms. Meaning, we move two Cun closer to the elbow rather than toward the palm of the hand. 

So, let’s locate pericardium 6; 

1. Find the crease of the wrist on the palm side of the forearm. 
2. Measure 2 Cun (thumb widths) from the crease towards the elbow. 
3. Pericardium 6 is located on the centre line of the forearm, two Cun proximal to the wrist crease. 

It sounds confusing, but like anything, it’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it!  

Adjusting Cun measurements to locate acupoints

If you observe another individual’s thumb width, you will notice a relative size difference. It’s simple, if you are taller, your thumb width will be thicker, and if you are shorter, your thumb width will be thinner. Therefore, the tall person’s Cun measurement will be decreased, and the shorter persons will be increased. 

Practise, practise and more practise is the key to success! It is much simpler than this lengthy explanation, so get to it! Compare your thumb width to those around, use the knowledge you have just learned to locate p6 on different people; you’ll be an expert in no time at all!