Book Review Graphic Acu-Pointer
by Grace-Comp Systems, LTD

Reviewed by Doug Eisenstark L.Ac.


Grace-Comp Systems, LTD
PO Box 613
Locust Valley, NY 11560 USA
(516) 671-3369

Acu-Pointer $29
Windows 3.1, Windows 95


Software like this reminds me of the people in the year 2305 who will invent a completely interactive information medium. It will be lightweight, have instant indexing, retain information for hundreds of years, be completely portable and be completely self-powered.

They will (re)discover the book, of course. Acu-pointer is a simple program that does little that 15 pages of the most basic Acupuncture texts don't do better. The channels are listed at the top of the page and accessed by pointer. Small, simple line-drawings display the points by number. Clicking on the individual points bring up a description of the location, indications and clinical significance (yuan-source etc...). The bottom of the page shows the antique, connecting, source and xi-cleft points of the channel.

There is a small section devoted to the most basic of theory of Chinese Medicine and the meridians. There is also an alphabetized Pinyin index to the numbered points.

Having just seen a preview of the proposed NCCA computerized test, I really wanted to like this program. However, the concept and ambition here is pretty thin. With just a few more levels of complexity, this could have been greatly improved. Students could be faced with a blank drawing allowing them to guess at point names and locations. A zoom function could show detailed anatomical drawings. Differences in locations between texts and traditions could be highlighted. There are no extra points given. Unfortunately, the drawings give only a loose interpretation of the points' locations. For example, the spleen and liver points shown on the lower limb appear essentially to be on the same meridian. For $30, some students and practitioners may want to have this program. Should you absolutely have to have a computerized resource to the points, it serves as a very basic guide. If you are reading older texts with only Pinyin names, the index in this program may be handy. (Should you always read next to your computer.)

The one disk program loaded well into Windows.


Yin/Yang Symbol Acupuncture.com

Contacting Acupuncture.com...