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Location Guides: |
Master Tung's Common Cold Three
Meeting of Governing Vessel with Bladder
On the midline of the back, in the depression below the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1).
Perpendicular-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.
"Bend (the patient’s head forward) to locate it. It is needled to a depth of five fen, (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).
Clears Heat and treats malaria
Regulates the Du Mai
Its rising and falling hexagram attribution is shared by the points Lieque Lu-7 and Hegu LI-4, the Luo and Yuan-Source points of Metal.
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Medial branches of dorsal rami of T1
Dermatome Segment: C4
See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.
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).
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 Taodao Du-13 and Yuzhen Du-17.
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 elimination of Yin and is associated with the Earthly Branch of Chen, 7 - 9 am, and the Stomach. This suggests a relationship of the Kidney Yang to providing the Stomach Heat.
Further indications can be derived based on the Hexagram attributions of the Antique Points, this would correspond to Lieque Lu-4 or Hegu LI-4 which share the Hexagram Guai (Eliminating, ䷪). The connection of these points and the name of the hexagram imply this point's role in eliminating pathogens, and hence the role of the Kidney Yang and Stomach (whose Earthly Branch is represented by this Hexagram) in generating Wei Qi. It could be argued that Dazhui Du-14 is a better choice of point for this barrier.
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).
In Tung Lineage Acupuncture the Common Cold Three (Gan Mao San) are located at Du-13 and bilateral at Bl-42. They are pricked to bleed in instances of the common cold due to external invasion and contraction of summerheat (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).
In Tibetan medicine:
mKhris-pa point. Edelweiss flowers are burnt in cones like moxa over crushed garlic at this point for cold mKhris-pa.
T2 is a Bad-Kan point used for pulmonary and heart diseases and headaches caused by cold mKris-pa (Bradley, 2000: Principles of Tibetan Medicine)
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
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