玉枕 : Yuzhen : Jade Pillow

Classifications:

One of the "59 piercings" for clearing Heat in Su Wen Ch. 61

Location:

1.3 cun lateral to Naohu Du-17 (in the depression superior to the external occipital protuberance, 1.5 cun superior to Fengfu Du-15).

Needling:

Transverse insertion 0.5 - 1 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).
"It is needled to a depth of twofen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of three exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Expels Wind and Cold and alleviates pain
Benefits the nose and eyes

TCM Indications:

• Occipital headache, pain from head wind that is difficult to endure, dizziness, pain of the neck with inability to turn the head, pain of the head and neck with aversion to wind and absence of sweating, heaviness of the head and neck, cold sensation in half of the head, cold head with copious sweating, red face, pain of the cheek.
  
• Eye pain, bursting eye pain, short sightedness, nasal congestion, loss of sense of smell.
  
• Chills and fever, bone pain with chills and fever, vomiting, madness, mad walking, epilepsy, collapse on sudden standing.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Greater occipital nerve from C2

Dermatome Segment: C2

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Shocks the brain causing knock out and great Qi drainage from the chest leading to nausea and even potential heart failure (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Pain of the nape and neck:
    Yuzhen Bl-9 with Wangu GB-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).
  
  
• Wind dizziness:
    Yuzhen Bl-9 with Houding Du-19 and Hanyan GB-4
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Head Wind:
    Yuzhen Bl-9 with Xinhui Du-22
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Nasal congestion:
    Yuzhen Bl-9 with Baihui Du-20, Toulinqi GB-15, Shangxing Du-23 and Danyang (extra 0.5 cun posterior to Toulinqu GB-15)
    (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:

Its name is derived from its location as the upper barrier in alchemical practice (Wang Mu, 2011, Foundations of Internal Alchemy)

The "59 piercings" are named in the Su Wen Ch. 61 and mentioned in Su Wen Ch. 32 for treating Heat diseases. This point along with Wuchu Bl-5, Chenguang Bl-6, Tongtian Bl-7 and Luoque Bl-8 clear Heat from counterflow in the foot Taiyang Bladder channel.

Ling Shu Ch. 24, On Counterflow Diseases, seems to employs this set of points in treating headache, dizziness and heaviness of the head. It advises draining from the five points on each of the five channels on the top of the head, including this point, followed by the hand Shaoyin and then foot Shaoyin.

In scalp acupuncture this point would correspond to the visual area of the brain. It is needled from above directed inferiorly towards this point. (Hao, 2015, The Treatment of Pain Through Chinese Scalp Acupuncture)

The Ling Shu ch. 52 describes four Qi "Streets" (街 Jie, "street or market") on the head, chest, abdomen and shins. The Head Qi Street refers to the points located along the Bladder and Gall Bladder channel of the head and are said to have a special connection with the brain.

This point's indications for bone pain with chills and fever, collapse on standing, aversion to wind with absence of sweating, and heaviness of the head and neck would make it a suitable candidate for the Bladder Qi Street point relating to the Kidney, Bladder and Taiyang disorders.

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

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