強間 : Qiangjian : Unyielding Space

Location Guides:

Location:

At the back of the head on the midline, 1.5 cun directly superior to Naohu Du-17, midway between Fengfu Du-16 and Du-20.

Needling:

Transverse insertion 0.5 - 1 cun

Classical Needling:

" It is needled to a depth of threefen and is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Pacifies Wind and alleviates pain
Calms the Shen

TCM Indications:

• Headache, dizziness with agitation, nausea and vomiting of foamy (watery) saliva, stiffness of the neck with inability to turn the head.
  
• Epilepsy, shaking of the head, mad walking, insomnia, Mania-Withdrawal (癲狂, Dian Kuang), clonic spasm.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Greater occipital nerve from C2

Dermatome Segment: C2

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Headache that is difficult to endure:
    Qiangjian Du-18 with Fenglong St-40
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Stabbing pain of the head with inability to move:
    Qiangjian Du-18 with Touqiaoyin GB-11
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Stabbing pain of the head with inability to move:
    Qiangjian Du-18 with Zuqiaoyin GB-44
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Deviation of the mouth with inability to speak:
    Qiangjian Du-18 with Chenqi St-1, Sibai St-2, Juliao St-3, Daying St-5, Kouheliao LI-19, Yingxiang LI-20, Renzhong Du-26, Shangguan GB-3, Fengchi GB-20 and QIangliao SI-18
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Agitation of the Heart:
    Qiangjian Du-18 with Baihui Du-20 and Chengguang Bl-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).
  
  
• Epileptic convulsions, mad walking, inability to sleep, agitation of the Heart:
    Qiangjian Du-18 with Zanzhu Bl-2, Xiaohai SI-8 and Houxi SI-3
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).

Notes:

Among the Du Mai points of the head, this point has a particular association with headaches, dizziness, agitation, nausea and inability to turn the head make this point particularly associated with Shaoyang disorders.

In the Unani Islamic medical practice of Hijama this point is known as Akhda'ain.

It is "narrated by ibn majah, on the authority of Ali razi allaho anh that angel Jibreel advised prophet Muhammad Sallallahoo Alaihi Wa Sallam for hijama at Akhda'ain (posterior jugulars) and Kahil (upper back ~between the shoulder) [Dazhui Du-14".

Kahn, 2019, http://hijamacups.com/sunnah-points/. Accessed 12 May 2019.

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