Note that these points are the same as SP 3, SP 4, and KI 2 but are needled together as a set. These points are indicated for frontal headaches, hypertension, eye and visual problems, dizziness, neck, and back pain. They are also used for heart-kidney disharmonies and may be used for some shen disturbance patterns.
Stimulate these points now by flexing your toes.
This will cause the arch of your foot to lift as the flexor muscles contract.
Feel how that movement activates the region where these points are located.
In myofascial anatomy, we may say that these points influence the Deep Front Line (DFL) and therefore function similarly to other points on the feet that affect the DFL. Moving to the liver line, we find that LV 3 and LV 2 have similar functions as this set of points. For instance, LV 3 and LV 2 also treat headaches, hypertension, disorders of the eyes, dizziness, pain, and shen disturbance.
The Chinese point names for 66.10, 66.11, and 66.12 also reveal similarities between LV 2 because they all contain the word fire in their names (Huo Lian, Huo Ju, and Huo San). Like LV 2, these points clear excess heat and fire but are thought to do so in a way that clears it from the heart while balancing water. This can be understood from a neurological perspective, as well as from a 5-element viewpoint. Since 66.10 and 66.11 are on the earth-spleen meridian we can think of reducing fire through using earth points. Similarly, using the fire point on the kidney meridian reduces fire while boosting water energy.
Neurologically, and in relation to treating shen disturbance, 66.10, 66.11, and 66.12 are all partially innervated by the medial plantar nerve which emerges from L5 - S3. Similarly, many of the points on the feet are innervated by nerves arising from the S2 - S3 myotomes.
Foot massages are often very relaxing, promote sleep,
and produce powerful parasympathetic responses.
There are numerous ways to produce deeply relaxing responses with acupuncture, massage, and breathwork. Massage and touch in general are known to produce calming parasympathetic feelings. Similarly, acupuncture may be done in a way to produce parasympathetic reactions, and the points in the feet affect the sacral nerves and likely cause craniosacral and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses to calm and heal the mind and body. This is why so many of the points in the feet are useful for shen disturbance and treating disorders related to excess fire and fire-water disharmonies.
Watch the video below to see how you can massage these points for clients.