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Entry point from Tinggong SI-19
Master point of the Heart, Small Intestine, Kidney and Bladder Divergent Meridians (Chace, The Merging of Ways)
Confluent point of the Stomach, Spleen, Heart and Small Intenstine Divergent Channels (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
Binding point of the foot Taiyang Sinews
Meeting of Bladder with Small Intestine, Stomach, Gall Bladder, San Jiao, Yin Qiao Mai, Yang Qiao Mai and Heart Divergent
0.1 cun medial and superior to the inner canthus of they eye, near to the medial border of the orbit.
Perpendicular insertion 0.2 - 0.3 cun.
Ask the patient to close their eyes and look as far as possible to the side away from the needle. With the forefinger push the eye gently away and hold firmy while needling slowly and perpendicularly with the other hand, without lifting, thrusting or rotating. Immediately withdraw and press firmly with a cotton ball for about a minute to prevent haematoma.
In Taiwan I witnessed needling to a depth of 1.5 cun into this point, curving around the eye socket, and the needle being retained for optic nerve degeneration. This should probably not be attempted in the UK as informed consent and insurance would probably not cover any incident.
Contraindicated to moxibustion
"The Taiyang usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Taiyang is to be pierced 5 fen deep and remain inserted for seven exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of six fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of six exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Benefits the eyes
Expels Wind and clears Heat
Superficial Innervation: CN V1 ophthalamic branch of trigeminal
Dermatome Segment: CN V1 ophthalamic branch of trigeminal
The eyes are one of the 36 vital points of Feng Yiyuan 馮一元 listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621) (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).
Striking this point, even lightly, can cause nausea, a rapid energy loss and a possible loss of sight. Damage to the internal Qi of the connected meridians can also be done. Struck hard it can stop the Qi flowing and cause death due stopping the circulation of Wei Qi leading to vulnerability to external attack and death from disease (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
This is one of the eight striking points in Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu. These are the nonfatal areas on an attacker's body that can be struck when just defending or wanting to defeat an attacker. Described as "The point between the eyebrow and eye socket" by Olson suggesting this point, however the diagram seems to point to Yintang between the eyebrows (Olson, 2010, The Complete Guide to Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu). Wong Honfan (1946) describes it as "the space between the eyebrows as well as the eyes themselves" (Ravenswood Academy, 2020, The Eight Forbidden Strikes of Praying Mantis Fist) which would cover both.
Ling Shu Ch. 5 places this point, described as the "gates of life", a reference to the eyes, as the end of Taiyang with Zhi Yin Bl-67 as the root. In cases of sudden illness the whole channel is to be examined for surplus and deficiency and the pathology removed.
Ling Shu Ch. 52, On the Wei Qi, considers this to be the tip of the hand and foot Taiyang meridians with the roots being at Fuyang Bl-59 and Yanglao SI-6.
According to Jeffrey Yuen (2005, The Eight Extraordinary Vessels) these points are the origin of the third trajectory of the Du mai which ascends the head to Baihui Du-20 where it enters the Brain to emerge again at the base of the skull and travels down the Huatuojiaji to the Kidneys.
This point is also indicated in issues with the Second Level of Manifestation of the Soul, or Svadhishthana chakra manifesting in deficiency in ability to make subconscious associations, along with Mingmen Du-4 and Yongquan Kid-1. They represent individuality, ability to see polarity, make separations and move into the world (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).
In Sufism this level would relate to the Valley of Love described by Attar in the Conference of the Birds as:
"Next the tempting valley of love displays itself
Whoever enters that field burns in the furnace;
A true lover stakes his cash and his head
For union with his beloved and his mate;
Others are content with another day's promise to wait
But the lover finds his beloved here ..."
Here the mystic is consumed with desire to be absorbed into the divine.
Like the other even (Yin) sets, the unifying theme is the mingling of Kidney Yang (Jingming Bl-1) with Kidney Yin (Yongquan Kid-1) in the Life Gate Fire (Mingmen Du-1), with the connection to the eyes and the Fire in the lower Dan Tian indicating desire. Alchemically it therefore represents the mingling of Water and Fire, Kan and Li. Desire to be united with the beloved also indicates a separation of beloved and beloved and hence duality, but with the desire to have those opposites unite into one.
When used as part of a Divergent Meridian treatment is paired with the He Sea point, or less commonly with the Yuan Source or Luo Connecting point of the channels (Chace, The Merging of Ways).
When used in Cecil-Sterman's Divergent treatments (2012, Advanced Acupuncture) she suggests that if the patient is really uncomfortable with needling so close to the eye that Zanzhu Bl-2 with very strong intention may suffice (although she warns against it being seen as a substitute).
For the application of essential oils in self-treatment she suggests Yingxiang LI-20 to prevent oil getting into the eye.
Jin's Three Needles for the Eyes are located at this point, Chengqi St-1 and a third extra point between the eyeball and the supraorbital ridge. All three are needled perpendicularly 1.2-1.5 cun, pushing the eyeball away while inserting and no stimulation is applied except stroking the handle upwards with the fingernail. They are indicated for optic nerve atrophy, macular degeneration, retinal detachment and other visual or eye disorders (eLotus, 2021).
The proximity of this point to the inner canthus of the eye would make it a suitable candidate for a head-Shu point of the Yin Qiao Mai.
The Ling Shu ch. 52 describes four Qi "Streets" (街 Jie, "street or market") on the head, chest, abdomen and shins. The Head Qi Street refers to the points located along the Bladder and Gall Bladder channel of the head and are said to have a special connection with the brain.
This point is the meeting point of the Qi Streets of the Head, Chest, Abdomen and Shins that are all located along the Bladder, Gall Bladder and Stomach Channels.
Avicenna describes venesection at this point in his treatise On Venesection:
"The temporal veins and the vena angularis [near this point] become visible only after choking the neck. In these veins, the incision should be not be deep to avoid becoming a fistula. They will bleed a good amount of blood. Venesection of these veins is beneficial in headache, migraine, chronic conjunctivitis, epiphora (overflow of tears onto the face), leucoma (an opaque white spot on the cornea), trachoma (bacterial infection of the eye), styes and night blindness." (Aspects of Treatment According to General Diseases, 21st section in Abu-Asab, Amri & Micozzi, 2013, Avicenna's Medicine).
Medieval phlebotomy point (John de Foxton, 1408: Liber Cosmographiae, maa.cam.ac.uk)
Galen mentioned bleeding this point for crusts on the eyes that remain after inflammation (Brain, 1986, Galen on Bloodletting, p.89, 94)
In ayurvedic medicine:
Sringataka marma point
Size: 4 angula (cun)
Structure: Blood vessels
Effect of Injury: Fatal (sadhyapranahar marma)
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)
Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call this point Kaninaka and associate it with the doshas: Alochaka Pitta, Pachaka Pitta, Prana Vayu, Vyana Vayu and Tarpaka Kapha.
They give the following actions:
- Benefits the eyes, improves vision
- Enhances circulation of aqueous and vitreous humor
- Relieves headaches
- Opens nasolacrimal duct, relieves nasal congestion
- Relieves stress and tension
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
Steve Woodley Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine
90 Deane Croft Road,
Eascote, Pinner, Greater London. HA5 1SP
Tel/WhatsApp: +44 (0) 7946 174 829
Email: steve@steve-woodley.co.uk
