率谷 : Shuaigu : Leading Valley

Location Guides:

Meetings:

Meeting of Gall Bladder with Bladder

Location:

In the temporal region, in the slight depression 1 cun directly above the apex of the ear (Jiaosun SJ-20)

Needling:

Transverse insertion 0.5 - 1.5 cun in the direction of symptoms or to connect with other points, especially Taiyang (M-HN-9)

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).
"Chewing locates the point. It is needled to a depth of four fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Eliminates Wind, benefits the head and alleviates pain
Harmonises the diaphragm and Stomach and alleviates vomiting
Treats alcohol intoxication

TCM Indications:

• One-sided headache, heaviness of the head, head wind, pain at the corner of the forehead (in the area of Touwei St-8), deviation of the mouth and eye, acute and chronic Childhood Fright Wind, dizziness, eye disorders.
  
• Incessant vomiting, cold Stomach, phlegm qi diaphragm pain, inability to eat, agitation and fullness on eating or drinking, injury by alcohol with vomiting, phlegm dizziness, oedema.

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:

• One-sided or generalised Wind headache that is difficult to cure:
    Join Sizhukong SJ-23 subcutaneously with Shuaigu GB-8
    (Yu Long Ge, 玉龍賦, Song of the Jade Dragon. First recorded in Wang Guorui, 王國瑞, 1329: Bian Que Shen Ying Zhen Jiu, Yu Long Jing, 扁鵲神應針灸玉龍經, Bian Que's Spiritual Guide to Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Classic of the Jade Dragon).
  
  
• Cold phlegm in the diaphragm and Stomach:
    Shuaigu GB-8 and Geshu Bl-17
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Problems relating to the Third Level of Manifestation of the Soul, equivalent to the Manipura Chakra:
    Shaigu GB-8 with Daling Pc-7, Shanzhong Ren-17 and Jimai Liv-12 or Ququan Liv-8
    (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls, see notes below).

Notes:

Unusual for being the only point specifically recommended in the classics for treating a hangover (Deadman et al, 2001).

Unusual among the points of the head for also pacifying the Stomach, along with GB-17 and Bl-6. However, this point is exceptional since it cannot only be used when effulgent Shaoyang Fire is the cause, like GB-17 and GB-9, but can also be used when Wood restrains Earth, insufficient Shaoyang Fire causes Cold in the Stomach, ascending counterflow Shaoyang Qi causes incessant retching and vomiting, and depressed Qi causes Phlegm obstruction (Yue, 17th Century, Explanation of Channels and Points Vol. 2, p.169-170).

Among the Gall Bladder points of the head, there appear to be some that indicate they are special points for influencing the Zangfu, similar to the Front or Back Shu points. The indications for vomiting disorders and intoxication unique to this point, would make it a suitable candidate for the head-Shu for the Pericardium. Its proximity to Tianchong GB-9 whose name implies a Chong Mai / Blood connection would also support this, along with this points own name, where 谷 Gu can also be a figurative expression for "a difficult position; a predicament," or refer to "holding back or concealing negative emotions" which is part of the Pericardium's function. Together these can imply a point to lead one through a difficult emotional situation.

This point is also indicated for issues relating to the Third Level of Manifestation of the Soul, or the Manipura chakra, manifesting in difficulties switching the mind off, becoming unconscious and sleeping. The problem is that the Lung qi is unable to descend into the formless darkness of the Kidneys or the Kidneys are unable to hold it here.

The specific purpose of this point is to help the mind to descend. The others in the set are Shanzhong Ren-17, Daling Pc-7 and Jimai Liv-12 or Ququan Liv-8 (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).

All the points in this set have an association with Jueyin with a focus on the Pericardium and therefore the descent of Fire.

In Sufism this level would relate to the Valley of Knowledge described by Attar in the Conference of the Birds as:

"No one can find a fixed road in this place
Because there are many roads and different destinations;
And since many paths the wanderer sees
Each rise as his wisdom guides or foresees;
Each person marches till he attain his own perfection
Yet moods dictate friendship and one's action ..."

Here there are many paths all leading to knowledge of the Divine, which comes from the Heart and its willingness to sink into formlessness, rather than intellectual knowledge of worldly forms, which are revealed to be utterly useless.

This point connects with the middle brain concerned with interaction and is associated with the Heart and Kidney channels (Yuen, 1995, The Curious Organs, taken from class notes by Avi Magidoff).

Jin's Three Squamous Needles are located 2 cun above the apex of the ear (one cun above this point) with the second and third located 1 cun anterior and posterior to the first. All three are needled inferiorly and will therefore connect with this point, Jiaosun SJ-20 and possibly Erheliao SJ-22 and Fubai GB-10. They are indicated for abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement, hemiplegia, intellectual disability and general learning difficulties (eLotus, 2021).

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