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Ying-Spring and Fire point
Binding point of the foot Shaoyin Sinews
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual; Melzack, Stillwell & Fox, 1977)
Meeting of Kidney with Yin Qiao Mai
On the medial side of the foot, distal and inferior to the medial malleolus, in the depression distal to the navicular tuberosity.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun
"The Shaoyin usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The foot Shaoyin is to be pierced 2 fen deep and remain inserted for three exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of three fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of three exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones. Pricking the point often produces blood and results in instant hunger and a good appetite" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Calms deficiency Heat
Regulates the Kidneys
Regulates the Lower Jiao
Shared with Kunlun Bl-60 and balanced by ䷿ (Shaohai He-3 or Xianggu SI-2).
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Medial calcaneal branches of tibial nerve (S1 - S2)
Dermatome Segment: L4
Muscle:
Abductor hallucis
Pain Referral Pattern:
All around the metatarso-phalangeal joint of the big toe
Indications:
Disease of the metatarso-phalangeal joint of the big toe
Apart from local pain, striking this point damages the Kidney Yang, weakening the body and can even cause instant diarrhoea (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
Important point for empty Heat from Yin deficiency.
Su Wen Ch. 62 suggests draining a surplus in the Kidneys with distention of the abdomen and passing undigested food, by bleeding from this point.To supplement a deficiency of the Kidneys with an upsurging rebellion (Water's nature is to flow down) use Fuliu Kid-7.
Ling Shu Ch. 6 suggests piercing the Ying points (and Shu points according to Unschuld, 2016, but not according to Wu & Wu, 201) of the Yin channels if a disease is in the Yin of the Yin realm (e.g. the Zang organs) suggesting this point (and Taixi Kid-3) in diseases of the Kidney.
Ling Shu Ch. 9, On Ends and Beginnings, advises that in the case of Heat associated with receding Yin Qi the Yang conduit should be pierced once and the Yin conduits twice. Based on other recommendation to use the He-Sea of the Yang conduits (Ch. 19) and the Yuan-Source with the Ying-Spring points (Chs. 6, 19 and 24) to clear Heat from the Zangfu, that would suggest this point, Taixi Kid-3 and Weizhong Bl-40 as a protocol to clear Heat in the Kidney/Bladder. Next it advises that in Cold associated with receding Yang Qi the Yang should be pierced twice and the Yin> once but no such obvious protocol is evident for this situation. Another interpretation that would match with common practice today, based on the idea of odd numbers being Yang/moving/clearing while even numbers are Yin/tonifying/reinforcing, is that the points on the channel to be cleared are pierced on one side only while those on the channel to be tonified are pierced bilaterally.
Ling Shu Ch. 19, on the Four Seasonal Qi, advises selecting the Jing-Well and Ying-Spring openings in winter, piercing deeply and retaining for a while. However, the character for "retain" 留 is a combination of 田 "a field," possibly referring to the idea of waiting for things to grow, and 卯 which is the 4th Earthly Branch (Mao, Rabbit, ䷡, 5-7 am, Large Intestine) and said to derive from a Shang Dynasty glyph, originally referring to a blood sacrifice (a person or animal cut in half) before coming to mean bloodletting and "pouring out" (Smith, 2011). This might suggest it was actually referring to bleeding these points, and maybe even letting the points bleed for a time rather than retaining the needle.
Ling Shu Ch. 22, On Mania and Madness, advises that when Wind invasion and counterflow causes the limbs to become swollen, profuse sweating, a feeling of cold and to be irritated when hungry, then blood is removed from the outer and inner sections of the hand Taiyin and foot Shaoyin and Yangming. If the flesh is cool then it is be done through the Ying-Spring points and if the bones are cold it is to be done through the Jing-Well and Jing-River points.
Ling Shu Ch. 24, On Counterflow Diseases, employs the point combination mentioned in Ch. 6 for the treatment of Heart pain. It advises piercing this point and Taixi Kid-3 when treating a severe piercing pain in the Heart associated with the Spleen. It also advises this point in cases of a Heart pain that feels like being struck, with a bent and painful back, associated with the Kidneys. In this case it is an addition to Jinggu Bl-64 and Kunlun Bl-60 if the patient either becomes mad or if the first two points do not relieve the pain.
Ling Shu Ch. 44, On the Qi Moving in Accordance with the Norms, indicates that the Ying-Spring points should be pierced in spring or when the disease is associated with a change in complexion. The seasonal aspect should not be interpreted literally as it describes the colours as "controlled by spring". It also describes the morning, afternoon, evening and night cycle of the day to be like the four seasons of the year with morning corresponding to spring.
Ling Shu Ch. 52, On the Wei Qi, considers this point or Sanyinjiao Sp-6 (the text is vague and says 3 cun above or below the inner ankle) to be the root of the foot Shaoyin meridian with the tip being at Shenshu Bl-23 and Lianquan Ren-23.
In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa and bleeding point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)
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
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