 |
Location Guides: |
 |
Window of Heaven point
Seven Star Point
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)
Meeting of Small Intestine with San Jiao Divergent, Large Intestine Divergent and Lung Divergent
On the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, level with the layngeal prominence.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 0.8 cun
"The Taiyang usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be 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 and is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Benefits the ears, throat and voice
Regulates Qi and calms the Shen
Activates the channel, alleviates pain and clears Heat
Superficial Innervation: Transverse cervical nerve (C2 - C3)
Dermatome Segment: C3
Muscle:
Cleidomastoid
Location Notes:
Trigger point location would be on the belly of the cleidomastoid
Pain Referral Pattern:
To the ear and behind the ear and to the forehead above the eye.
Indications:
Frontal headaches and dizziness
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).
Can cause instant death when struck hard. As a Window of Heaven point,
medium strikes will cause emotional imbalance and Heart problems, maybe even leading to the recipient to laugh when struck but is very dangerous and should not be attempted as the likelihood of causing death is high (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
Ling Shu Ch. 2, The Roots of the Acupuncture Points, lists this point along with 9 others, with no indications for their use. This chapter later became the origin of the "Window of Heaven" points, although this name was not given until modern times.
In the Jade Purity Tradition this would be a suitable addition to the second trinity of Ghost Points, or as a complement to Shaoshang Lu-11 in the first trinity where the voice is affected (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).
In early Chinese medicine, the pulse felt near this point, beside the throat (probably the current location of Renying St-9), was taken as an indication of the health of the Small Intestine channel (Wang et al., 2012).
The seven star points (Baihui Du-20, Binao LI-14, Tianchuang SI-16 and Huantiao GB-30) take energy in from the outside. They are used in Qigong stances as Qi input points (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
In ayurvedic medicine:
Siramatrika marma point
Size: 4 angula (cun)
Structure: Blood vessels.
Effect of Injury: Fatal (sadhyapranahat marma).
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)
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
