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Location Guides:![]() |
Back Shu point of the Small Intestine
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual; Melzack, Stillwell & Fox, 1977)
Meeting of Bladder with
1.5 cun lateral to the midline, at the level of the first posterior sacral foramen.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun
"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 three 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).
Separates the pure from the turbid
Regulates the Intestines and Bladder
Drains turbid Dampness and claers Damp-heat
Regulates Small Intestine Qi
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Dorsal rami of S1 - S3
Dermatome Segment: S3
Deeper Structures: Dorsal rami of S1
Muscle:
Multifidus
Pain Referral Pattern:
Around the point and radiating down the buttock to the sacrum with some radiation to the posterior aspect of the upper thigh and to the abdomen directly anterior to the point
Indications:
Myalgia of the long extensors of the back
; Paraumbilicai pain.
See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.
Main function is in regulating water balance with regards to the bladder and intestines.
In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)
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