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Front Mu of the Lung
Entry point from Qimen Liv-14
Front Shu of the Breast
Opening point of the Lung Divergent channel (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
One of the "59 piercings" for clearing Heat in Su Wen Ch. 61
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Therapy)
Meeting of Lung with Spleen, Large Intestine Divergent and Lung Divergent
On the lateral aspect of the chest, in the first intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the midline, 1 cun inferior to Yunmen LU-2
Transverse-oblique insertion 0.5 - 1 cun medially along the the intercostal space
Deep perpendicular needling or oblique insertion carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax
"The Taiyin usually has much Qi and little Blood" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"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).
"Locate it with (the patient) lying supine. It is needled to a depth of three fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of five exhalations, and it is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Disseminates and descends Lung Qi and alleviates cough and wheezing
Transforms Phlegm, clears Heat and regulates the water passages
Descends Stomach Qi
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Lateral cutaneous branch of C3 - C4
Dermatome Segment: C4, T2
Muscle:
Coracobrachialis and clavicular section of perctoralis major
Location Notes:
Travell & Simons' (1998) diagram shows this point slightly lateral at the base of delto-pectoral triangle, directing the needle lateral into the shoulder
Pain Referral Pattern:
To anterior shoulder and if coracobrachialis, down posterior and dorsal aspects of the arm and hand
Indications:
Upper limb pain, especially in the front of the shoulder and the posterior of the arm for coracobrachialis
; Intrascaupular and sternocleidomastoid pain and limited horizontal abduction of the arm
Listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621), Article 9: Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Vital Points Revealed as the vital point associated with the Yin 寅 Tiger (3 - 5 am) and the Lung meridian (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).
Struck with a smaller weapon such as a one-knuckle punch, this point causes great Qi drainage and thus great local pain which will slowly spread over the whole chest area due to this point's connection to SP 21. A strike here will hinder the progress of Gu Qi causing a long term effect hindering nourishment to the body causing health and lifestyle to become slowly diminished (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
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.
One of the twelve Shu points of the breast mentioned in the Su Wen Ch. 58 and identified by Wang Bing.
If the Shu points of the Breast have elemental organ associations like the Shu points of the Chest, then this imagery of a mansion or administrative centre, as contrasted against the villagers of Xiongxiang Sp-19, would suggest this is the point of the Heart. If the theory is correct that these relate to the formation of bodily Qi from food and drink, then this point is where the Kong Qi from the air and the Gu Qi from food merge to become Zong Qi, one of whose functions is to provide warmth, a function of the Fire element. In the formation of Blood, this connection to the Heart would allow the Blood that has gathered for circulation at Zhourong Sp-20 to become infused with Shen.
The imagery of an administrative centre or official residence, as opposed to a genuine imperial palace (宮 Gong), suggests Ministerial Fire rather than Sovereign Fire due to the relatively humble survival function of the Breast Shu points.
The outer line of Tung's 12 Monkeys (Shi Er Hou) would be located slightly medial (5 fen) to this point.
The Front Mu points make likely locations for application of leeches to reduce fevers according to François Broussais' (1772-1838) philosophy who believed in placing them over the diseased organs to reduce inflammation (Greenstone, 2010, The history of bloodletting, BCMJ, Vol. 52, No. 1, Pp 12-14).
In the case of the lung however any number of chest points could suffice.
Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call this point Kakshadhara or Skandadhara and associate it with the doshas: Prana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta, Ranjaka Pitta and Avalambaka Kapha.
They give the following functions:
- Enhances lung capacity and flow of prana
- Relieves tightness in chest and bronchospasm
- Relieves pulmonary congestion
- Relieves shoulder and arm pain
- Pacifies aches and soreness in breasts
In Thai massage:
Acupressure point (Salguero & Roylance, 2011, Encyclopedia of Thai Massage)
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
90 Deane Croft Road,
Eascote, Pinner, Greater London. HA5 1SP
Tel/WhatsApp: +44 (0) 7946 174 829
Email: steve@steve-woodley.co.uk
