 |
Location Guides: |
Window of Heaven point
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual; Melzack, Stillwell & Fox, 1977)
Confluent point of the San Jiao and Pericardium Divergent channels (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
Confluent point of the Shaoyang zone
Meeting of San Jiao with San Jiao Divergent
On the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, approximately 1 cun inferior to Wangu GB-12, on a line drawn between Tianzhu BL-10 and Tianrong SI-17.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun
"The Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi" (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).
"It is needled to a depth of one fen and is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Regulates the head and sense organs
Regualtes and descends Qi
Superficial Innervation: Lesser occipital nerve (C2) at skin and dorsal rami of C3 - C4 at musclular level
Dermatome Segment: C3
Muscle:
Splenius capitis or cleidomastoid
Location Notes:
Cleidomastoid trigger point location would be on the belly of the muscle
Pain Referral Pattern:
Spenius capitis: Around point and vertex of head
Cleidomastoid: To the ear and behind the ear and to the forehead above the eye.
Indications:
Splenius captis: Cervical disc disease; degenerative arthritis of cervical spine; headaches
; Cleidomastoid: Frontal headaches and dizziness
See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.
The Su Wen ch. 46, suggests that the Qi moves in the Yangming under usual circumstances, implying the carotid pulse felt at Renying St-9. It contrasts this to abnormal pulses that may appear in the Shaoyang and Taiyang (Wang Bing considers this to mean this point and Tianrong SI-17 at the front and rear of the SCM muscle above Renying St-9 although other possibilities can exist). These abnormal pulses appear as a sign of "pulsation disease" (Shidong Bing 是动病) that indicates Yang Reversal (Yang Jue 陽厥) where Yang is trapped in the interior resulting in anger and mania and recommends depriving the patient of food to reduce their Qi.
Ling Shu Ch. 21, On Cold and Heat Diseases, advises this point in instances of sudden deafness and dimmed or unclear vision. This chapter is the origin of the first five "Window of Heaven" points, although this name was not given until modern times.
In the Jade Purity tradition this point woiuld make a suitable addition to Yinbai Sp-1 in instances of possession causing restless dreaming leading to tiredness all the time (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).
Medieval phlebotomy point (Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov)
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
