廉泉 : Lianquan : Corner Spring

Meetings:

Meeting of Conception Vessel with Yin Wei Mai, Kidney Divergent, Spleen Divergent and the Broken Line (Duan Xian) 斷線)

Location:

On the anterior midline of the neck, in the depression above the hyoid bone.

Needling:

Oblique insertion in the direction of Baihui Du-20, 0.5 cun - 1.2 cun.

Warnings:

According to several modern texts this point is contraindicated to moxibustion

Classical Needling:

"It is needled to a depth of two fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of three 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:

Benefits the tongue
Descends Qi and alleviates cough

TCM Indications:

• Swelling below the tongue with difficulty speaking, sudden loss of voice, loss of voice following Windstroke (中風, Zhong Feng), contraction of the root of the tongue with difficulty in eating, protrusion of the tongue, much spittle, dryness of the mouth, thirst, mouth ulcers, lockjaw.
  
• Cough, rebellious qi, dyspnoea, chest pain, vomiting of foam.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Transverse (superficial or cutaneous) cervical nerve (C2, C3)

Dermatome Segment: C3

Deeper Structures: Hypoglossal (CN XII) and glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) at posterior of tongue and lingual nerves from mandibular branch of trigeminal (CN V3) at either side

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Cough with chest pain, agitation, breathing with the shoulders, panting noisily and sitting forward, with aversion to dust or smoke:
    Lianquan Ren-23 with Tianrong SI-17
    (Anon, 400BC-260AD: Huang Di Nei Jing Ling Shu, 黃帝內經靈樞, Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: Spiritual Pivot)
  
  
• Swelling below the tongue with difficulty speaking, protrusion of the tongue with drooling:
    Lianquan Ren-23 with Yingu Kid-10 and Rangu Kid-2
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Swelling and pain below the tongue:
    Lianquan Ren-23 with Zhongchong Pc-9
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Swelling of the tongue with difficulty breathing:
    Lianquan Ren-23 with Jinjin/Yuye Ex-HN-12
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Cough with Rebellious Qi, dyspnoea, vomiting of foam, clenched teeth:
    Lianquan Ren-23 with Futu LI-18, Tianrong SI-17, Qishe St-11, Pohu Bl-42 and Yixi Bl-45
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Wasting and Thirsting Disorder:
    Lianquan Ren-23 with Chengjiang Ren-24, Jinjin/Yuye Ex-HN-12, Renzhong Du-26, Quchi LI-11, Laogong Pc-8, Taichong Liv-3, Xingjian Liv-2, Shangqiu Sp-5, Yinbai Sp-1 and Rangu Kid-2
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

Mainly used for loss of voice and stiffness of the tongue following windstroke. Can also be used for salivation disorders by directing alternately towards extra points Jinjin and Yuyue.

The Broken Line (Xiuming Xian 修命線) is an internal line used in inner cultivation arts (Neigong Shu 內功術) that connects Tianting Du-24, located 3 cun above Niwan, with the front genitalia at Qugu Ren-2. It is called the Broken Line because it runs in straight line with two breaks, the first in the nasal cavity underneath the eyebrows and above the palate of the mouth, the second at the throat from this point to Xuanji Ren-21 which is called the Twelve Storied Tower (Wang, 2019, Daoist Internal Mastery ).

Ling Shu Ch. 5 places this point as the end of Shaoyin with Yong quan Kid-1 as the root. In cases where "the vessel has knots and is no longer passable" (trans. Unschuld 2016) the whole channel is to be examined for surplus and deficiency and the knots removed.

Ling Shu Ch. 22, On Madness and Mania, advises using this point if the patient sleeps little, is not hungry, considers themselves extraordinary and are insulting to others. Blood is removed from the hand Taiyang, Yangming and Taiyin as well as the Shaoyin point under the tongue which corresponds to this point (Unschuld, 2016, cites a comment that also adds Shenmen He-7, Shaochong He-9 to this). Only vessels that show an abundance are bled, those without are spared.

Ling Shu Ch. 23, On Heat Diseases, recommends this point with Yinlingquan Sp-9 and Yongquan Kid-1 to remove a Heat disease with tension and pain on both sides of the navel, and a feeling of fullness in the chest and flanks.

The same chapter gives a different list of points for the "59 Piercings" to Su Wen Ch. 61 which includes this point.

Ling Shu Ch. 52, On the Wei Qi, considers this point or Shenshu Bl-23 to be the tip of the foot Shaoyin meridian with the root being at Zhaohai Kid-6, Fuliu Kid-7 or Jiaoxin Kid-8 (the text is vague and says 3 cun above or below the inner ankle).

Ling Shu Ch. 59, On Abnormal Wei Qi, advises this point (referred to as Houzhong), Renying St-9 and Tiantu Ren-22 to drain accumulations in the chest. If there are accumulations in the chest and abdomen then these three points are coupled with Qichong St-30 and Zusanli St-36 used for draining accumulations below and Zhangmen Liv-13 in the middle. In severe cases a "chicken claw" technique, using three needles positioned like the character 个 Ge, are to be used. If the pulse is large and wiry and the the abdomen is tense it must not be pierced.

Ling Shu Ch. 75, On Piercing to Regulate True and Evil Qi, recommends this point and Tianrong SI-17 as part of the "Shaking Off Dust" treatment for when the patient's coughs, the Qi rises, his body curves and chest aches. It should be pierced until the blood (Unschuld, 2016) or complexion (Wu & Wu, 2010) undergoes a change.

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 Kidney, to be used in instances of Kidney Yin Stasis.

When using the Kidney or Heart Divergent meridians to expel a latent pathogen this point should be stimulated with Gua Sha before commencing needling (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture).

Medieval phlebotomy point (Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov)

Avicenna describes cupping at this point in his treatise On Cupping:

"Cupping under the chin is good for the teeth, face and throat, and cleanses the head and the jaws." (Aspects of Treatment According to General Diseases, 22nd section in Abu-Asab, Amri & Micozzi, 2013, Avicenna's Medicine)

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

They give the following functions:
- Regulates thyroid and parathyroid function
- Enkindles agni and eliminates ama (toxicity)
- Regulates udana vayu, benefits speech
- Benefits lungs, pharynx, larynx, trachea
- Calms respiration, stimulates bronchodilation
- Regulates expression of thought, feeling and emotion through speech
- Releases suppressed emotions

In Tibetan medicine:
Bleeding 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