府舍 : Fushe : Abode of the Fu

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)

Meetings:

Meeting of Spleen with Liver and Yin Wei Mai

Location:

On the lower abdomen, 0.7 cun superior and 0.5 cun lateral to Chongmen Sp-12, 4 cun lateral to the midline. This point is also defined as lying 4.3 cun inferior to Daheng Sp-15.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 1 - 1.5 cun

Warnings:

In thin patients deep needling could penetrate the peritoneal cavity.

Classical Needling:

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

TCM Actions:

Regulates Qi and alleviates pain

TCM Indications:

• Abdominal fullness and pain, painful abdominal (Ji Ju) masses, Shan (疝) Disorder, constipation, pain of the lateral costal region, Sudden Turmoil (霍亂, Huo Luan) Disorder, pain of the thigh.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Femoral branches of genitofemoral nerve from L1

Dermatome Segment: L1

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Lateral abdominals

Location Notes:
Various points around here may cause diarrhoea if active

Pain Referral Pattern:
From point and inferiorly to groin with spillover across abdomen

Indications:
Abdominal pain and digestive discomfort

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Similar to Chongmen Sp-12 but with greater emphasis on nerve damage, striking this point will cause the whole leg to be paralysed and may damage the femoral artery too. A strong kick to this region can also knock the head of the femur and ball joint right out of its socket damaging the tendons and ligaments causing great pain and immobilisation. Long term effects may include weakness as the body is not be able to take as much Qi from food, air and water (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Abdominal fullness and abdominal masses
    (Ji Ju):
    Fushe Sp-13 with Chongmen Sp-12
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

Huangfu Mi (3rd Century, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) records this point as being where a vessel deviates from the main channel, entering the abdomen to connect with the Heart and Lung, then ascending the lateral costal region to emerge at the shoulder. This branch is compared to the Taiyin, three Yin and Yangming. This may explain some of its indications for heart pain and cough.

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