承山 : Chengshan : Support the Mountain

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Ma Dan-yang Heavenly Star point
Binding point of the foot Taiyang Sinews

Homeostatic point 10 (Ma, Ma & Cho, 2005, Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management)
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)

Meetings:

Meeting of Bladder with Yang Wei Mai

Location:

On the lower leg, in the depression formed below the bellies of the gastrocnemius muscle when the muscle is flexed, approximately 8 cun distal to Weizhong Bl-40.

Needling:

Perpendicular or oblique insertion directed proximally or distally, 1 - 1.5 cun, or oblique insertion towards Weizhong Bl-40 in "Yang Pentrative Needling".

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 seven fen, and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Relaxes the sinews, activates the channel and alleviates pain
Benefits the calf and heel
Treats haemorrhoids

TCM Indications:

• Haemorrhoids, bleeding haemorrhoids, swollen and painful haemorrhoids, constipation, prolapse of the rectum.
  
• Pain and stiffness of the lumbar region, sciatica, difficulty sitting and standing, inability to stand for long, cramps, pain and contraction of the sinews, Leg Qi (腳氣, Jiao Qi) with swollen knee, heavy legs, flaccidity and weakness of the leg, pain of the heel, heat sensation in the soles with inability to stand for long.
  
• Shivering, Malarial (瘧, Nue) Disorders, Sudden Turmoil (霍亂, Huo Luan) Disorder, nosebleed, sore throat, heat in the head.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Sural nerve (L5 - S2)

Dermatome Segment: S2

Deeper Structures: Sural nerve (L5 - S2)

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Soleus

Pain Referral Pattern:
To sacroiliac joint

Indications:
Tenderness in the heel

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• The nine types of haemorrhoids with bleeding:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Changqiang Du-1
    (Yu Long Ge, 玉龍賦, Song of the Jade Dragon. First recorded in Wang Guorui, 王國瑞, 1329: Bian Que Shen Ying Zhen Jiu, Yu Long Jing, 扁鵲神應針灸玉龍經, Bian Que's Spiritual Guide to Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Classic of the Jade Dragon).
  
  
• The five types of haemorrhoids:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Weizhong Bl-40, Feiyang Bl-58, Yangfu GB-38, Fuliu Kid-7, Taichong Liv-3, Xiaxi GB-43, Qihai Ren-6, Huiyin Ren-1 and Changqiang Du-1
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Chronic haemorrhoids:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Erbai Ex-UE-2 and Changqiang Du-1
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Blood in the stool:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Fuliu Kid-7, Taichong Liv-3 and Taibai Sp-3
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Intestinal Wind with blood in the stool:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Changqiang Du-1
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Difficult defecation:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Taixi Kid-3
    (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 defecation:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Dazhong Kid-4, Zhongliao Bl-33, Guanyuan Ren-4, Chengjin Bl-56, Taichong Liv-3, Taixi Kid-3 and Zhongwan Ren-12
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Feebleness of the legs:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Weizhong Bl-40 and Zusanli St-36
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Pain of the legs and lumbar region:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Yinshi St-33, Huantiao GB-30, Fengshi GB-31, Weizhong Bl-40, Kunlun Bl-60 an dShenmai Bl-62
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Contraction of the legs:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Shangqiu Sp-5, Changjin Bl-56 and Jinggu Bl-64
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Heat in the sole of the foot with inability to stand for long:
    Changshan Bl-57 with Chengjin Bl-56, Tiaokou St-38 and Zusanli St-36
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Heat in the head and rhinitis with nosebleed:
    Chengshan B-57 with Feiyang Bl-58, Kunlun Bl-60, Jinggu Bl-64 and Yinbai Sp-1
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Heel pain:
    Chengshan Bl-57 with Chengjin Bl-56, Kunlun Bl-60 and Ahshi points.

Notes:

The Nei Jing suggests this is the origin of the Yang wei mai instead of Jinmen Bl-63.

The Su Wen Ch. 20, Discourse on the Three Sections and Nine Indicators, describes "The man [indicator] of the lower section: the foot major yin [locations]... The man [indicator] serves to examine the qi of spleen and stomach". Wang Bing's commentary says this means "This is to say: the spleen vessels. Their movement can be felt at the 'winnower gate (箕門)' section directly below the 'five miles' [section] between the running sinews (趨筋) above the 'fish belly (魚腹)'" (Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, trans. Unschuld & Tessenow, 2011). Wang (2019, Daoist Internal Mastery) says this means this point, Jimen Sp-11 or Chongyang St-42.

Ling Shu Ch. 52, On Wei Qi, suggest this point along with Qichong St-30 to release evil Qi in the legs. It advises to press the point for a time until there is a reaction and then pierce with the fine needle and apply a draining technique. Conditions treated are headache, dizziness and falling to the ground, abdominal pain, fullness, distension and accumulation. If it is painful and the pain moves it can be cured easily; if is is a painless fixed accumulation it is difficult.

In "Yang penetrative needling", to promote flow of qi through the foot taiyang Bladder meridian, needle obliquely between the bellies of the gastrocnemus muscle, through Chengjin Bl-56, Heyang Bl-55 as far as Weizhong Bl-40 (Liu Yan, 2008, Diagrams of Acupuncture Manipulations, p.139).

In ayurvedic medicine:
Indravasti marma point
Size: 1/2 angula (cun)
Structure: Muscle
Effect of Injury: Premature death (kalantarprana marma)
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)

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