步廊 : Bulang : Walking Corridor or Walking on the Verandah

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Spirit point
Exit point to Tianchi Pc-1
Front Shu of the Chest for the post-natal Kidneys and pre-natal Lung on the upper Chong Mai trajectory (Yuen, 2005, The Extraordinary Vessels, Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)

Location:

In the fifth intercostal space, 2 cun lateral to the midline.

Needling:

Transverse-oblique insertion, directed laterally along the intercostal space 0.5 - 1 cun

Warnings:

Deep perpendicular or oblique needling may puncture the lung and/or liver.

Classical Needling:

"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).
"Locate it with (the patient) lying supine. It is needled to a depth of four fen and is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Unbinds the chest
Lowers rebellious Lung and Stomach Qi

TCM Indications:

• Cough, asthma, dyspnoea, wheezing, diminished qi, fullness and pain of the chest and ribs, breast abscess, nasal congestion.
  
• Vomiting, no pleasure in eating.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Anterior cutaneous thoracic nerve from T6

Dermatome Segment: T6

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Diminished Qi:
    Bulang Kid-22 with Shaofu He-8, Pangguangshu Bl-28, Shaochong He-9, Xingjian Liv-2 and Dazhong Kid-5
    (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:

One of the twelve shu points of the chest mentioned in the Su Wen Ch. 58, along with Shenfang Kid-23, Linxu Kid-24, Shencang Kid-25, Yuzhong Kid-26 and Shufu Kid-27.

In TCM these are employed for wheezing, dyspnoea and coughing due to 'fullness above and deficiency below' due to weak kidney qi not grasping lung qi (Deadman et al, 2001).

Yuen (2005, The Extraordinary Vessels) believes these points, when related to the front Shu points of the Chong mai are located at 0.5 cun from the midline.

In five element acupuncture indicated for lacking a sense of protection or safety in the world, cannot walk freely.

In Mayan medicine:
Combined with Shenfang Kid-23, Linxu Kid-24, Shencang Kid-25 and Yuzhong Kid-26 to reinforce Tiantu Ren-22 in treatments of asthma (Garcia, Sierra, Balam, 1999: Wind in the Blood)

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call the six point from Kid-22 to Kid-23 (three each side) Hrid and associate them with Prana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu Sadhaka Pitta and Avalambaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Regulates cardiac function and heart rate
- Improves coronary circulation
- Maintains optimal function of lungs and airways
- Relieves congestion in breast tissue
- Enhances lymphatic circulation in chest area
- Calms mind, balances emotions, relieves stress

They also locate two points called Stanya Mula close to this point but nearer the midline associated with Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu and Avalambaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Benefits the breasts
- Regulates lactation
- Relieves congestion in breast tissue
- Enhances lymphatic circulation

In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)

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