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Location Guides: |
Master Tung's Bowel Nest Twenty-Three
Binding point of the foot Taiyin Sinews
Meeting of Conception Vessel with Chong Mai and Kidney
On the midline of the lower abdomen, 1 cun inferior to the umbilicus and 4 cun superior to the pubic symphysis.
Perpendicular insertion 0.8 - 1.5 cun
Deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity. No deep needling in pregnancy, or perpendicular needling in advanced pregnancy.
"It is needled to a depth of eight fen and moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Regulates menstruation
Benefits the lower abdomen and genital region
Regulates the Lower Jiao (Nan Jing 31)
Superficial Innervation: Anterior cutaneous thoracic nerve from T11
Dermatome Segment: T11
See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.
Li Shi Zhen thought this was the intersection of all three leg yin channels: Liver, Spleen and Kidney, as well as the Chong mai and Gall Bladder (Yuen, 2005, The Eight Extraordinary Vessels).
This point is also indicated in problems with the Fourth Level of Manifestation of the Soul, or the Anahata chakra, concerned with the evolution of the soul, creation, "mind becoming matter" and the ability to turn ideas into actions that have consequences. This manifests in hopelessness, cynicism and inability to see reality as illusion. The other points in this set are Baihui Du-20, Huiyang Bl-35.
Before the Ming Dynasty Huiyin Ren-1 was used until points around the genitals became taboo (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).
In Sufism this level would relate to the Valley of Independence or Detachment described by Attar in the Conference of the Birds as:
"Seven oceans here in one breath turn into a pool
Seven burning globes turn here to a fire ball, the whole;
If a part or the whole system perish here
It seems that a straw is lost in the sphere ..."
Here the mystic feels free of worldly concerns as they are all simply a drop in the ocean that God.
Like the other even (Yin) sets there is one point representing Yang (Baihui Du-1), one representing Yin (Huiyin Ren-1) and one that unifies them in the lower Dan Tian (Huiyang Bl-35). This time the polarity is even more extreme but are also all Hui meeting points, suggesting their distance seeming even more extreme as their impending unification approaches.
Also from Yuen's school, this point along with Jinsuo Du-8, relate to the Sixth Level of Manifestation of the Soul (Po).
The sixth Po is related to the spiritual evolution of the Heart and compassion. After overcoming life's difficulties one is capable of truly understanding others, experiencing empathy but also returning to oneself. It transcends judgement and dialectics like right-wrong, good-bad. Obstruction at this level causes inability to understand others and empathise, constantly criticising others and society in all their aspects.
Treatment typically involves the Po Activation points Changqiang Du-1 and Jiuwei Ren-15 which are the Luo of the Ren and Du channels, accessing emotion at the level of the Jing, followed by the points associated with the particular level of blockage.
Berardinis & Navarra (2017). The succession of Po in the ladder of life. https://www.acupuncturesida.com/The-succession-of-Po-in-the-ladder-of-life.aspx
This point treats disorders of the Lower Burner in a San Jiao treatment (Wang & Robertson, 2008, Applied Channel Theory).
In Tung lineage acupuncture the Bowel Nest 23 (Fu Chao Er Shi San) are a group of points located in a line at 1 cun intervals between Ren-2 and Ren-10. An additional eight points on either side form a 4x5 grid at the levels of Ren-9 to Ren-5, also at 1 cun intervals. Ren-8, on the navel, is not included.
They are pricked using Tung's method in local disorders of pain, stagnation and heat in the abdomen such as uteritis, nephritis, umbilical area pain, enteritis, appendicitis and intestinal cancers (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).
In nine palaces abdominal acupuncture, this point is located in the region associated with ☵ Kan, Water, the north and the Kidneys and Bladder organs (Schelbert, 2014, Ryan, 2009).
In Tibetan medicine:
Upper intestine points, along with points to the left and right. Can be treated with cones of dried edelweiss flowers (Trah-wah) on crushed garlic for diarrhoea caused by disturbance of mLung (Bradley, 2000: Principles of Tibetan Medicine)
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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