脊中 : Jizhong : Centre of the Spine

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Master Tung's Five Mountain Ranges

Meetings:

Meeting of Governing Vessel with Strength line (Zhuangli Xian 壯力線)

Location:

On the midline of the back, in the depression below the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11).

Needling:

Perpendicular-oblique insertion 0.5 - 1 cun

Warnings:

The spinal canal lies between 1.25 and 1.75 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build. According to a number of classical texts, this point is contraindicated to moxibustion.

Classical Needling:

"Bend (the patient’s body forward) to locate it. It is needled to a depth of five fen and moxa is prohibited. Moxibustion may cause atony" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Fortifies the Spleen and drains Damp
Benefits the spine

TCM Indications:

• Abdominal fullness with no pleasure in eating, abdominal (Ji Ju) masses, jaundice, diarrhoea, diarrhoea with inability to eat, blood in the stool, the five types of haemorrhoids, prolapse of the rectum in children.
  
• Stiffness of the lumbar spine, wind epilepsy, warm febrile disease.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Medial branches of dorsal rami of T11

Dermatome Segment: T11

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Wind epilepsy:
    Jizhong Du-6 with Yongquan Kid-1
    (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:

The Strength line (Zhuangli Xian 壯力線) is an internal line used in inner cultivation arts (Neigong Shu 內功術) that connects the xiphoid process at Jiuwei Ren-15 or Zhongting Ren-16 with T11 at this point or Zhongshu Du-7. It is used to strengthen the tendons in the body and used more in the hard, external forms of Qigong and martial arts (Wang, 2019, Daoist Internal Mastery ).

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).

From Yuen's school, this point along with Xiawan Ren-10, relate to the Fourth Level of Manifestation of the Soul (Po).

The fourth Po is connected to early adulthood and the Heart - Spleen dynamic, adulthood, social relations, compromise and the need to lie to maintain the balance between feelings (Heart) and reason (Spleen). Obstruction at this level results in an inability to maintain integrated in society through compromise.

It is the first level without a connection to the Kidneys and instead connecting to the Heart.

Treatment typically involves the Po Activation points Changqiang Du-1 and Jiuwei Ren-15 which are the Luo of the Ren and Du channels, accessing emotion at the level of the Jing, followed by the points associated with the particular level of blockage.

Berardinis & Navarra (2017). The succession of Po in the ladder of life. https://www.acupuncturesida.com/The-succession-of-Po-in-the-ladder-of-life.aspx

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).

This sort of technique may make greater sense than regular needles as shallow depth without retention may be safer over the spine and lungs.

In Tibetan medicine:
Edelweiss flowers are burnt in cones like moxa over crushed garlic at this point as a stomach point to treat lack of digestive heat, stomach tumours and chronic diarrhoea.
The point below T12 is the reproductive organs point and treats premature ejaculation, heavy periods, constipation and tumours of the uterus (Bradley, 2000: Principles of Tibetan Medicine)

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