氣海俞 : Qihaishu : Sea of Qi Shu

Location Guides:

Classifications:

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

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Location:

1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the thrid lumbar vertebra (L3).

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Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 1 - 1.5 cun

Classical Needling:

"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).

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TCM Actions:

Strengthens the lumbar region and legs
Regulates the Lower Jiao

TCM Indications:

• Lumbar pain and stiffness, painful obstruction and pain of the lower limb, atrophy disorder.Dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstruation, leucorrhoea.Haemorrhoids, bleeding haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, diarrhoea containing blood, abdominal pain.

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Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Dorsal rami of L1 - L3

Dermatome Segment: S2

Deeper Structures: Dorsal rami of spinal nerves from L3

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Iliopsoas and deep quadratus lumborum

Myotome Innervation:
Iliopsoas: Femoral nerve (L1 - L2); Quadratus lumborum: Dorsal rami of spinal nerves from T12 - L4

Location Notes:
Lumbar pain and stiffness, painful obstruction and pain of the lower limb, atrophy disorder. Dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstruation, leucorrhoea. Haemorrhoids, bleeding haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, diarrhoea containing blood, abdominal pain.

Pain Referral Pattern:
Around lower vertebral region (iliopsoas) and to buttock (quadratus lumborum)

Indications:
Low back pain ; Myalgia of long extensors of back

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Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

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Major Combinations:

• Lumbar pain:
    Qihaishu Bl-24 with Shenshu Bl-23 and Zhonglushu Bl-29
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

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Notes:

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

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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

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