中瀆 : Zhongdu : Middle Ditch

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)

Location:

On the lateral aspect of the thigh, 2 cun inferior to Fengshi GB-31.

Needling:

Perpendicular or slightly posteriorly oblique insertion 1 - 2 cun, or oblique insertion directed proximally or distally 1.5 - 2.5 cun

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The foot Shaoyang is to be pierced 4 fen deep and remain inserted for five exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of five fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of seven exhalations, and it is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Expels Wind, Damp and Cold
Activates the channel and alleviates pain

TCM Indications:

• Atrophy disorder and Painful Obstruction (痹, Bi) of the lower limb, sinew Painful Obstruction (痹, Bi) with numbness, numbness, hemiplegia, sciatica, pain of the backand hip, cold qi residing in the muscles and sinews.
  
• Urticaria.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh (L2 - L3)

Dermatome Segment: L2

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Vastus lateralis

Pain Referral Pattern:
Lateral side of thigh and knee

Indications:
Strain of quadriceps ; Diseases of the knee

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Atrophy disorder:
    Needle Zhongdu GB-32 and Huantiao GB-30, moxa Zusanli St-36 and Bl-13
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Zhen Jiu Yu Jing, 針灸聚英, Glorious Anthology of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

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