肩髃 : Jianyu : Shoulder Bone

Classifications:

Opening point of the Large Intestine Divergent channel (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
One of the "59 piercings" for clearing Heat in Su Wen Ch. 61
Binding point of the foot Taiyang, hand Shaoyang, hand Yangming and hand Taiyin Sinews

Meetings:

Meeting of Large Intestine with Yang Qiao Mai and Large Intestine Divergent

Location:

In the depression which lies anterior and inferior to the acromion, at the origin of the deltoid muscle

Needling:

With the arm abducted, perpendicular insertion directed towards the centre of the axilla, 1 - 1.5 cun, or transverse-oblique insertion directed distally towards the elbow, 1.5 - 2 cun

Classical Needling:

"The Yangming usually has much Qi and much Blood" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel can normally be needled or bled.
"The hand Yin and Yang receive their Qi via nearby paths so their Qi arrive swiftly. The depth of piercing must not exceed 2 fen and must not remain inserted for longer than one exhalation" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of six fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of six exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Dispels Wind-Damp, alleviates pain and benefits the shoulder joint
Eleimates Wind and regulates Qi and Blood
Regulates Qi and dissipates Phlegm nodules

TCM Indications:

• Shoulder pain, weakness of the shoulder, wind-damp of the shoulder, heat sensation in the shoulder, redness and swelling in the shoulder, inability to raise the arm to the head, contraction and numbness of the arm, hemiplegia, wind paralysis, Windstroke (中風, Zhong Feng), wind atrophy disorder, wind disease, heat in the four limbs, inability to turn the head, Painful Obstruction (痹, Bi) of the fingers.
  
• Wind-heat urticaria, injury by cold with heat that does not dissipate.
  
• Scrofula, goitre, seminal emission due to taxation, hypertension.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Supraclavicular from C3 - C4

Dermatome Segment: C3

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

More of an anatomical point, a good strike here may break or dislocate the shoulder (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this point is a cavity pressing point (Dian Xue, 點穴) and a cavity striking point (Da Xue 打穴). Pressing or striking this point can cause numbness in the arm and shoulder (Yang, 2004, Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition).

Major Combinations:

• Heat in the four limbs:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Yunmen Lu-2, Weizhong Bl-40 and Yaoshu Du-2
    (Anon, 400BC-260AD: Huang Di Nei Jing Ling Shu, 黃帝內經靈樞, Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: Spiritual Pivot, Ch. 23, On Heat Diseases).
  
  
• Wasting and weakness of the arm with inability to raise the arm to the head:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Binao LI-14
    (Preserving Life).
  
  
• Redness and swelling of the upper arm with pain of the joint:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Zhouliao LI-12 and Wangu SI-4
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Heat sensation of the shoulder with inability to turn the head:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Jianzhen SI-9 and Guanchong SJ-1
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Contraction of the elbow:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Chize Lu-5, Xiaohai SI-8, Jianshi Pc-5, Daling Pc-7, Houxi SI-3 and Yuji Lu-10
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Windstroke with one-sided withering and incessant pain:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Xuanzhong GB-39, Taixi Kid-3, Quchi LI-11, Zusanli St-36 and Kunlun Bl-60
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Urticaria from extreme Heat:
    Jianyu LI-15 with Yangxi LI-5
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).

Notes:

One of the classical "59 piercings" for clearing Heat

The "59 piercings" are named in the Su Wen Ch. 61 and mentioned in Su Wen Ch. 32 and Ling Shu Ch. 23 for treating Heat diseases.

In Tung acupuncture the Jian Zhong, Shoulder Centre, point is located 2.5 cun distal to this point at the centre of the deltoid muscle below the upper epicondyle of the humerus. It is indicated for a number of disorders that appear to be Blood stagnation generating Heat and Wind (pain in various locations, paralysis, bleeding, skin disorders) (Chu, 2015).

Yun Bai, Cloud White, is another Tung point located 2 cun distal and inferior to this point and is indicated for various gynaecological, hip, groin and urinary disorders (Chu, 2015). It is often combined with Li Bai, Plum White another 2 cun below this point, for leukorrhoea.

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda locate a point just behind this called Amsa and associate it with the doshas: Prana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu, Avalambaka Kapha, Kledaka Kapha and Shleshaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Gives freedom of movement to the shoulder
- Relieves pain and stiffness locally
- Enhances flow of prana
- Benefits the ears
- Stimulates pancreatic function
- Relieves stress

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