上髎 : Shangliao : Upper Crevice

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Binding point of the foot Taiyang and foot Shaoyang Sinews

Meetings:

Meeting of Bladder with Gall Bladder,

Location:

Over the first posterior sacral foramen.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun, or 1.5 - 2 cun through the foramen using a slightly oblique medial and inferior insertion.

Warnings:

Some classical sources forbid moxibustion at this point, but the Ling Shu, Ch. 22, actively suggests burning moxa over the sacrum in Dian Kuang (Mania-Depression) and the Thousand Ducat Formulas of Sun Si-Miao recommends moxa for difficulty in urination and defecation. Contraindicated during pregnancy.

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).
"It is needled to a depth of two cm, (the needle) is retained for a duration of seven exhalations and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Regulates the Lower Jiao and facilitates urinatino and defecation
Regulates menstruation and stops leucorrhoea
Benefits the lumbar region and legs

TCM Indications:

• Difficult urination and defecation.
  
• Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, infertility, leucorrhoea, incessant white leucorrhoea, seminal emission, impotence, itching and pain of the genitals, uterine prolapse.
  
• Vomiting, nosebleed, Malarial (瘧, Nue) Disorders with chills and fever.
  
• Lumbar pain, cold and pain of the back and knees.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Dorsal rami of S1 - S3

Dermatome Segment: S3

Deeper Structures: Sacral nerve S1 emerging from foramen

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Difficult urination and defecation:
    Moxa Shangliao Bl-31, Ciliao Bl-32, Zhongliao Bl-33 and Xiaoliao Bl-34 with one hundred cones
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Febrile disease with absence of sweating:
    Shangliao Bl-31 with Kongzui Lu-6
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

One of the Baliao or "eight crevices" located in the sacral foramen which all regulate urination, defecation, menstruation and benefit the lumbar region and legs.

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call this point Kati and associate it with the doshas: Apana Vayu, Ranjaka Pitta and Kledaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Benefits bladder
- Benefits ovaries and fallopian tubes
- Relieves inflammation
- Relieves local congestion
- Relieves pain locally

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