啞門 : Yamen : Gate of Muteness

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Point of the Sea of Qi
Master Tung's Seven Stars
Nine Points for Returning Yang (First Trinity: Separation)

Meetings:

Meeting of Governing Vessel with Yang Wei Mai

Location:

On the midline of the nape of the neck, in the depression 0.5 cun inferior to Fengfu Du-16, below the spinous process of the first cervical vertebra (C1,impalpable).

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion slightly inferiorly 0.5 - 1 cun

Warnings:

The spinal canal lies between 1.5 and 2 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build. Deep perpendicular insertion is therefore strictly contraindicated, as is superior oblique insertion towards the brain. According to several classical texts this point is contraindicated to moxibustion.

Classical Needling:

"Have (the patient) bend his head backward to locate the point. It is needled to depth of fourfen and moxibustion is prohibited as it may cause loss of voice" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Benefits the tongue and treats muteness
Eliminates Wind
Benefits the neck and spine

TCM Indications:

• Stiffness of the tongue with inability to speak, loss of voice, lotus flower tongue, flaccidity of the tongue.
  
• Heaviness of the head, head wind, loss of consciousness from Windstroke (中風, Zhong Feng), epilepsy, clonic spasm, Mania-Withdrawal (癲狂, Dian Kuang), loss of consciousness, all kinds of yang heat adn qi exuberance.
  
• Absence of sweating, chills and fever, nosebleed that does not stop.
  
• Stiffness of the neck, stiffness of the spine, sprain of the spine.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Medial branches of dorsal rami of C3 - C5

Dermatome Segment: C3

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this is a cavity striking point (Da Xue 打穴) which can shock the brain causing unconsciousness or death (Yang, 2004, Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition).

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

Major Combinations:

• Loss of voice:
    Yamen Du-15 with Kongzui Lu-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).
  
  
• Sudden loss of voice:
    Yamen Du-15 with Sanyangluo SJ-8
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Flaccidity of the tongue with inability to speak:
    Yamen Du-15 with Chuanchong SJ-1
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Windstroke, flaccidity of the tongue and sudden loss of voice:
    Yamen Du-15 with Fengfu Du-16 (Golden Mirror).
  
  
• Stiffness of the tongue:
    Yamen Du-15 with Shaoshang Lu-11, Yuji Lu-10, Erjian LI-2, Zhongchong Pc-9, Yingu Kid-10 and Rangu Kid-2
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Heaviness of the head:
    Yamen Du-15 with Tongtian Bl-7 and Fuyang Bl-59
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Nosebleed:
    Moxa Yamen Du-15 and Dazhu Du-14
    (Secrets of the Master of Cinnabar Creek).

Notes:

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).

This point and Yamen Du-15 connects with the lower brain concerned with survival and is associated with the Lung and Spleen channels (Yuen, 1995, The Curious Organs, taken from class notes by Avi Magidoff).

In Master Tung's system the uppermost point of the Seven Stars (Xi Qing) overlaps with this point, being located 0.8 cun above the posterior hairline. The others do not correspond to conventional points and are located 1 cun and 2 cun below this, and then 0.8 cun lateral to the middle point and 1 cun lateral to the lowest point. They are pricked to allow a small drop of blood in instances of nausea and vomiting, common cold, headache and high fever in children (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels)

The point Zong Shu (1010.07), Chief Pivor, is located close to this point, 0.8 cun above the posterior hairline, between this point and Fengfu Du-16. It is indicated for indicated for aphasia, neck pain, palpitations with weakness of the limbs and Sudden Turmoil with vomiting and diarrhoea (eLotus, 2022).

The Nine Points for Returning Yang are used for assisting those close to death. They may be used to resuscitate collapse from deserted Yang, or if it is their time, to assist them in their passage. They are divided into three trinities, related to separation, transition and reunion.

This point belongs to the first trinity, related to separation. They open the orifices, restrain Yang, calm the Shen, strengthen the Middle Burner and establish Heart/Kidney communication. Symptoms include:

- Separation from physical sustenance: food, air, sleep
- Breathing becomes laboured and slows down
- Appetite goes down
- Wants to sleep more but sleep becomes restless with tossing and turning.

This point treats the inability to vocalise, enabling you to say anything left unsaid, or anything you want to rectify by making your heart/mind known. It makes us more sensitive to the world and be honest about it. It also has a quietening effect, making us more comfortable and alleviates confusion from turbidity and phlegm.

J. Yuen lectures on death/dying and the spirit of points, posted as Facebook comments, 19 Dec 2020.

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

In the Qabalah this point along with Yamen Du-15would be the location of Binah, Understanding (Farrow, 2007, The Psychology of the Body). He also relates the Window of Heaven points Fengfu Du-16 and a href="/Point+Notes?point=Pc-1">Tianchi Pc-1 to Binah.

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