天沖 : Tianchong : Heavenly Surge

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Binding point of the foot Shaoyang Sinews
Possible Window of Heaven point (see notes below)

Meetings:

Meeting of Gall Bladder with Bladder and San Jiao Divergent

Location:

Above the ear, in the depression 0.5 cun posterior to Shuigu GB-8.

Needling:

Transverse insertion 0.5 - 1.5 cun in the direction of symptoms or to connect with other points.

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The foot Shaoyang is to be pierced 4 fen deep and remain inserted for five exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of three fen and moxaed with nine cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Clears Gallbladder channel Heat
Calms the Shen and pacifies fright

TCM Indications:

• Headache, tinnitus, damp itching of the ear, toothache, swelling and pain of the gums, goitre.
  
• Propensity to fear and fright, fright palpitations, epilepsy, tetany, madness.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Greater occipital nerve from C2

Dermatome Segment: C2

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Major Combinations:

• Arched back with sorrowful weeping:
    Tianchong GB-9 with Daheng Sp-15
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Headache:
    Tianchong GB-9 with Fengchi GB-20 and Muchuang GB-18
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

Several authors, especially Ma Shi (Ming Dynasty), considered that Ling Shu, Ch. 2, where the Window of Heaven points are derived, was mistaken when referring to Tianrong SI-17 which it describes as a point on the Shaoyang channel and actually meant this point, Tianchong GB-9. This would mean that all six Yang channels would be represented and would explain its use in calming the mind.

This point's name also implies a connection to the Chong Mai and may suggest a place where a pulsing can be felt. This could also make it a candidate for a head-Shu point of the Chong Mai, although its indications for sorrowful weeping suggest this may actually be a connection to the Yin Wei Mai too, sometimes seen as the upper part of the Chong Mai.

Tianchong 天衝 is the name given to one of the stars used in ancient Qimen Dunjia 奇門遁甲 Divination. It is a Yang Wood star.

衝 is simply an older form of 沖.

In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here