陽綱 : Yanggang : Yang's Key Link

Classifications:

Spirit point

Location:

3 cun lateral to the midline, level with the lower border of the spinous process of the tenth thoracic vertebra (T10) and level with Danshu Bl-19.

Needling:

Oblique insertion 0.3 - 0.5 cun

Warnings:

Deep perpendicular or deep oblique needling in a medial direction carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.

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).
"Locate it with the" (patient) seated upright. It is needled to a depth of five fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Regulates the Gallbladder and clears Damp-heat
Harmonises the Lower Jiao

TCM Indications:

• Heat in the body, yellow eyes and face, pain of the lateral costal region, dark and hesitant urination, indolence.
  
• Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, borborygmus, diarrhoea, Dysenteric Disorder (痢疾, Li Ji) with blood, irregular defecation, difficult ingestion, no pleasure in eating.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Posterior cutaneous thoracic nerves from T10

Dermatome Segment: T10

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Yellow eyes:
    Yanggang Bl-48 with Danshu Bl-19
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Yellow eyes:
    Yanggang Bl-48 with Yishe Bl-49, Naohu Du-17 and Danshu Bl-19
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Difficult ingestion:
    Yanggang Bl-48 with Qimen Liv-14, Shaoshang Lu-11 and Laogong Pc-8
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Red and hesitant urinary flow:
    Yanggang Bl-48 with Guanyuan Ren-4, Zhibian Bl-54 and Qihai Ren-6
    (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:

In five element acupuncture indicated for problems with making decisions.

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