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Jing-River and Metal Point
Mother point of the Kidney channel
Trigger point (Melzack, Stillwell & Fox, 1977)
On the medial aspect of the lower leg, in the depression 2 cun superior to Taixi Kid-3, on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon.
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 five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Benefits the Kidneys
Regulates the water passages and treats oedema
Regulates sweating
Drains Damp and clears Damp-heat
Strengthens the lumbar region
Shared with Zhiyin Bl-67 and balanced by ䷷ (Shenmen He-7 or Xiaohai SI-8).
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Saphenous nerve (L3 - L4)
Dermatome Segment: S1
Deeper Structures: Tibial nerve (L5 - S2)
Muscle:
Soleus
Pain Referral Pattern:
Radiating down the Achilles tendon to the calcaneus at the heel of the foot
Indications:
Tendon and muscle strains of the lower leg
; Periostitis of the calcaneus
Striking damages the
Kidney Jing causing an immediate rising of Heat into the head which can cause knock out or extreme nausea and possible damage later in life. It also affects the Lungs, draining energy from the body (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
One of the foremost points for strengthening the kidney functions of controlling water balance, including oedema, sweating and urination. This is due to it being the Metal point on the Water Channel and Metal's nature is to contract, thus helping where there is excess fluid leakage from sweating or urination. Metal is also the Mother of Water and so can be used to tonify the Kidneys, especially Kidney Yin, whereas Taixi Kid-3 has stronger indication where there is also an element of Yang Deficiency.
In five element acupuncture this point is reinforced to tonify Kidney deficiencies.
Su Wen Ch. 41 describes lower back ache with pain pulling on the breast and unclear eyes as being due to disease in the "Shining Yang". In severe cases they bend backwards and their tongue curls up and they cannot speak. It recommends piercing twice above the inner ankle, in front of the large sinew behind the Taiyin. Ma Shi's commentary describes this as an alternative name for this point and Wang Bing equates it with the Yin Qiao Mai.
Su Wen Ch. 62 suggests supplementing a deficiency of the Kidneys with an upsurging rebellion (Water's nature is to flow down) using this point. To drain a surplus with distention of the abdomen and passing undigested food, bleed from Rangu Kid-2.
Ling Shu Ch. 6 suggests piercing the Jing points of the Yin channels if a disease is in the Yin of the Yang realm (e.g. the sinews and bones). This would mean using this point to treat disorders of the hip, knee and ankle.
Ch. 7 then suggests using paired needles either side of the tendon to remove a tendon blockage illness, and straight needling to the bone for bone blockage illness. This could be interpreted as using these technique on this point, on either side of the achilles in incidences of injury to this tendon or straight in cases of bone injury, or using them as local techniques while Ch. 6 is a distal point suggestion.
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. 44, On the Qi Moving in Accordance with the Norms, indicates that the Jing-River points should be pierced in late summer or when the disease affects the voice. The seasonal aspect should not be interpreted literally as it describes the voice and musical notes as "controlled by late summer". It also describes the morning, afternoon, evening and night cycle of the day to be like the four seasons of the year although late summer is not included in this comparison but presumably has some correlate (maybe late afternoon).
Shang Han Lun, line 292, advises using seven cones of moxa on Shaoyin if the pulse fails to arrive normally in a Shaoyin pattern with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea, absence of counterflow but presence of heat effusion. No points are given but Ke Qin suggests this point and Yongquan Kid-1 while Zhang Nan suggests Taixi Kid-3 (Mitchell, Ye and Wiseman, 1999, Shang Han Lun).
In Tung acupuncture this point is called Guangming, Bright Light (77.28), and is indicated for all eye disorders, especially if combined with Shui Xiang, Tung's name for Taixi Kid-3 (Chu, 2015).
In Tibetan medicine:
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
Steve Woodley Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine
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