玉堂 : Yutang : Jade Hall

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Master Tung's Metal Five

Location:

On the midline of the sternum, level with the junction of the third intercoastal space and the sternum.

Needling:

Transverse insertion directed superiorly or inferiorly along the channel 0.5 - 1 cun

Classical Needling:

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

TCM Actions:

Unbinds the chest
Regulates and descends Qi

TCM Indications:

• Pain of the chest and sternum, agitation with cough, uprising qi, fullness of the chest with difficulty in breathing, wheezing and dyspnoea, cold phlegm.
  
• Vomiting, difficult ingestion.
  
• Throat Painful Obstruction (喉痹, Hou Bi), swelling of the throat, swelling and pain of the breasts, pain of the lateral costal region.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Anterior cutaneous thoracic nerve from T4

Dermatome Segment: T4

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

One of the 36 vital points of Feng Yiyuan 馮一元 listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621) (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).

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

Major Combinations:

• Cough with Rebellious Qi and agitation:
    Yutang Ren-18 with Zigong Ren-19 and Taixi Kid-3
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Agitation of the Heart and vomiting:
    Yutang Ren-18 with Youmen Kid-21
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Bone pain:
    Yutang Ren-18 with Zigong Ren-19 and Geshu Bl-17
    (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:

Ling Shu Ch. 5 places this point as the end of Jueyin with Da dun Liv-1 as the root. A later comment connects it to Dan zhong Ren-17 which arguably makes more sense being connected to Jueyin as the front Mu point of the Pericardium. In cases of grief the whole channel is to be examined for surplus and deficiency and the pathology removed.

Yuen (2005, The Eight Extraordinary Vessels) states that, according to the Ling Shu theory that the Leg Yin channels terminate and concentrate their Qi on the central axis of the body, this is also the Termination point of the Liver, to be used in instances of Liver Yin Stasis.

In Tung's acupuncture this point is called Jin Jiao and forms one of the Metal Five (Jin Wu), a series of five points that start at the upper border of the manubrium and descend at 1 cun intervals, approximately overlapping with Ren-18 to Ren-22. They are all indicated for difficultly breathing as well as their traditional indications for each point (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call this point Hridayam and associate it with the doshas: Prana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu Sadhaka Pitta, Pachaka Pitta and Avalambaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Regulates cardiac function and heart rate
- Improves coronary function
- Maintains optimal function of lungs and airways
- Benefits stomach, decreases activity
- Calms mind, balances emotions, relieves stress
The ayurvedic functions of this point on the heart more closely match Shanzhong Ren-17 located 1 cun inferior.

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