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Location Guides: |
Master Tung's Five Mountain Ranges
Master Tung's Behind the Heart points
On the midline of the back, in the depression below the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5).
Oblique superior insertion 0.5 - 1 cun
The spinal canal lies between 1.25 and 1.75 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build. According to several classical texts this point is contraindicated to needling.
"Bend (the patient’s head forward) to locate it. It is needled to a depth of five@, (the needle) is retained for a duration of five exhalations, and it is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Tonifies the Heart and Lung and calms the Shen
Clears Heat and pacifies Wind
Its rising and falling hexagram attribution is shared by the points Ligou Liv-5 and Qiuxu GB-40, the Luo and Yuan-Source points of Wood.
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Medial branches of dorsal rami of T5
Dermatome Segment: T5
See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.
This point is also on the 3rd trajectory of the Chong mai connecting the Chong with the Du for Invigorating Yang in cases of Bi Obstruction due to Blood Stagnation (Yuen, 2005, The Extraordinary Vessels).
When using the Bladder or Small Intestine Divergent meridians to expel a pathogen a band around the chest at this point, including Xinshu Bl-15, Shentang Bl-44 and Shanzhong Ren-17, should be treated with Gua Sha before commencing needling (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture).
Possible location for the middle barrier (Lulu Guan, the Barrier of the Pulley) in alchemical work, opposite the heart (Wang Mu, 2011, Foundations of Internal Alchemy). See also Mingmen Du-4.
The Illustration of Time in the Principles of the Innate Disposition and the Lifespan (Xingming Guizhi, 性命圭旨) describes the movement of prenantal Qi through the microcosmic orbit in terms of the I Ching Hexagrams and the twelve Earthly Branches. It says that:
The prenatal Qi of human beings follows the course of the day:
during the Zi (11 pm - 1 am), the Fu (Turning Back, ䷗) Qi arrives at Caudal Defile (GV 1);
during the Chou (1-3 am), the Lin (Approaching, ䷒) Qi arrives at Kidney Hall [maybe GV 4];
during the Yin (3-5 am), the Tai (Advance, ䷊) Qi arrives at the Mystic Pivot [maybe GV 5 based on name, or GV 7 based on location];
during the Mao (5-7 am), the Dazhuang (Great Strength, ䷡) Qi arrives at the Spinal Handle [possibly GV 10 or GV 11];
during the Chen (7-9 am), the Guai (Eliminating, ䷪) Qi arrives at the Kiln Path (GV 13);
during the Si (9-11 am), the Qian (Initiating, ䷀) Qi arrives at the Jade Pillow (Bl 9 [or GV 17]);
during the Wu (11 am -1 pm), the Gou (Encountering, ䷫) Qi arrives at the Mud Pill (GV 20);
during the Wei (1-3 pm), the Dun (Retreating, ䷠) Qi arrives at Hall of Brilliance (GV 23);
during the Shen (3-5 pm), the Pi (Hindrance, ䷋) Qi arrives at the Centre of the Chest (CV 17);
during the You (5-7 pm), the Guan (Watching, ䷓) Qi arrives at the Central Venter (CV 12);
during the Xu (7-9 pm), the Bo (Falling Away, ䷖) Qi arrives at Spirit Gate (CV 8);
during the Hai (9-11 pm), the Kun (Responding, ䷁) Qi returns to the Sea of Qi (CV 6).
(translated in Liu Lihong, 2019, Classical Chinese Medicine)
The location or equivalent point for the "Spinal Handle" (JiaJi, 夾脊) is not given but other sources indicate it is this point or Lingtai Du-10 as it is said to be located in the middle of the spine, across from the heart (Pregradio, 2022, Time in Chinese Alchemy from: Routledge Handbook of Chinese Medicine, p. 437).
Based on some considerations of the hexagram associations given here, the attributions of ䷁ and ䷀ to Huiyin Ren-1 and Baihui Du-20, and a desire to make ䷊ and ䷋ oppose one another at the centre of the body, it would seem that these attributions are where the Qi of a particular hexagram start, and finish at the start of the next, similar to how an hour continues until the next begins. Hence ䷡ governs the region between Lingtai Du-10 or Shendao Du-11 and Taodao Du-13.
Therapeutically, it would make sense that these points are associated with certain aspects of pre-natal Qi and its relation to the associated Zangfu of its Earthly Branch. The hexagram associated with this point represents the progression of Yang to dominate Yin and is associated with the Earthly Branch of Mao, 5 - 7 am, and the Large Intestine. This hexagram also shares the same structure as ☱ Lake and Metal. The Su wen ch. 8 describes the Large Intestine as the "transmitter of the Dao" and its location behind the Heart suggests a role in cultivation of the Heart-Mind and Shen.
Based on the Hexagram attributions of the Antique Points, this would correspond to Ligou Liv-5 or Qiuxu GB-40 which share the Hexagram Dazhuang (Great Strength, ䷡). The Earthly Branch associated with this Hexagram is the Large Intestine, which balances the Kidneys and is said to the "Transmitter of the Dao" (Su Wen ch. 8). Meanwhile the Gall Bladder's Earthly Branch balances the Heart and connects to the Curious Organs where Jing and Shen mingle. Therefore these associations all imply the Heart and Kidney Shaoyin Axis. This, along with the association with the Liver Luo on the genitals, erectile and sexual disorders, plus the hexagram name of "Great Strength" imply a connection to sexual discipline and Daoist sexual practices to stimulate vitality, vigour and restore mental acuity.
According to Ma, Ma & Cho (2005) this is usually the second point on the spine to become tender when homeostasis declines, after H20 (Zhiyang Du-9), at T7.
In Master Tung's system this point is one of the five mountain ranges (Wu Ling). They consist of five sets of points in three lines representing the phases of the Wu Xing in a series of lines:
The first set is along the midline, below each vertebrae from T2 to T11. From T2 to T8 relate to Fire, T9 to T11 relate to Earth.
The second set is 3 cun from the midline. from T2 to T9. From T2 to T6 relate to Metal, T7 to T9 relate to Wood.
The third set is 6 cun from the midline from T2 to T8. From T2 to T4 relate to Metal, T5 to T8 relate to Wood.
They are indicated for fever, common cold, hypertension, headache, lumbar pain, numbness of the hands and feet, hemiplegia, acute stomachache, vomiting or acute enteritis by releasing heat, wind and stagnation from the organs relating to their phase and treated with a pricking method to release a drop of blood (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).
Tung's Behind the Heart (Hou Xin or Bei Xin) points are located under spinous processes from T4 to T9, 1.5 cun laterally to T4 to T7 and 3 cun laterally from T4 to T6. They are indicated for "wool like furuncles", clove sores, weakness and debility of the Heart zang, Stomach diseases, acute heart disease leading to numbness and paralysis, wind-cold entering the interior, severe wind-cold, stroke, externally contracted diseases that manifest with papules. They clear heat from the Heart and Lung and release the exterior so are useful in dermatological disorders (ibid.).
Tung's prick to bleed technique may make greater sense than regular needles as shallow depth without retention may be safer over the spine and lungs and the larger gauge used may provide better stimulation to this relatively insensitive area.
In Tibetan medicine:
Edelweiss flowers are burnt in cones like moxa over crushed garlic at this point and over T6 as life channel and heart points to relieve madness, insomnia and palpitations, heart diseases and forgetfulness (Bradley, 2000: Principles of Tibetan Medicine).
In the Vedic tradition the Anahata Chakra would be located between this point and Shanzhong Ren-17.
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
Steve Woodley Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine
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