**The 13 Ghost Acupuncture Points** --The 13 ghost acupuncture points are part of an obscure and esoteric tradition in Chinese medicine. They were developed in the 6th Century by a doctor called Sun Si Miao to address disturbances that were attributed to demonic possession. Disorders such as seizures, mania, confusion, and nightmares were thought to have a spiritual origin and therefore required a spiritual solution. The 13 ghost points were said to transcend time and space and help a soul find their place in the cosmos. --However, the interesting thing about the ghost points is that even if you don’t believe they’re exorcizing ghosts they do seem to have a calming effect. All the points have applications that affect a patient’s emotional and psychological welfare and when used together they create a sense of peace and centeredness. --Gui is not a perfect translation for ghosts as we think of them today, but instead means “excess phlegm, ” which Sun Si-Miao believed to be the medium by which these spirits took residence in the body. In modern Acupuncture practices today, Phlegm is considered a pathogenic substance that forms from emotional stress, excess physical overwork, poor diet, drugs, and inflammation (excess heat and/or dampness in the body). --So whether you believe in the spirit-world or not, Ghost Points are said to help a soul find their place in the cosmos. They lend an ancient insight to assist in the treatment of mental and emotional conditions through Acupuncture today. They offer the opportunity to release your real or figurative ghosts: whatever has an overpowering hold over you, preventing you from connecting to your truth and essence. By doing so, you can regain the clarity to move forward in new, revitalizing ways. The ghost points are grouped in the Four Trinities and one extra point (under the tongue or between the eyes). The Four Trinities represent the progression of mania from first not feeling quite like yourself to doing things out of character. Later the person becomes fixated, secretive and controlled by these feelings. These points are not all needled in one session and in each session a different set of 3 points may be needled.