翳風 : Yifeng : Wind Screen

Location Guides:

Classifications:

One of the "59 piercings" for clearing Heat in Ling Shu Ch. 23

Homeostatic point 2 (Ma, Ma & Cho, 2005, Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management)

Meetings:

Meeting of San Jiao with Gall Bladder and Pericardium Divergent

Location:

Behind the earlobe, between the ramus of the mandible and the mastoid process, in the depression just superior to the palpable transverse process of the first cervical vertebra (C1).

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion directed towards the opposite ear 0.5 - 1 cun

Warnings:

If the needle is directed too anteriorly or posteriorly, pain will ensue and may cause discomfort on opening and closing the mouth for some while after treatment. The external jugular lies close to this point. If it is observed to be prominent this may be a sign of raised venous pressure resulting from heart problems.

Classical Needling:

"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 four fen and is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Benefits the ears
Eliminates Wind
Clears Heat
Activates the channel and alleviates pain

TCM Indications:

• Deviation of the mouth and eye, loss of speech, tetany with inability to speak, lockjaw, pain and swelling of the cheek, toothache of the lower jaw, pain of the teeth and gums, mumps, scofula, Superficial Visual Obstruction with dimness of vision.
  
• Mania disorder, clonic spasm.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Greater auricular nerve, from the cervical nerve plexus (branches from C2 - C4)

Dermatome Segment: C2

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this point is a blood vessel striking point (Da Xue 打脈) which can be struck with the thumb tip causing rupture or sealing of the artery (Duan Mai, 斷脈) (Yang, 1995, Tai Chi Chin Na; Yang, 2004, Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition).

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). Also listed in Article 21: Delayed Death Touches with Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Diagrams. This point along with Renzhong Du-26 and Yinlingquan Sp-9 are associated with Chen 辰 Dragon (7-9 am) and if struck during this time is said to cause death before a person can take 7 steps from trauma to the carotid artery (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).

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

Major Combinations:

• Purulent ear sores with discharge:
    Yifeng SJ-17 with Ermem SJ-22 and Hegu LI-4
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Deafness:
    Yifeng SJ-17 with Hizhong SJ-7 and Xiaguan St-7
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Deafness due to Qi obstruction:
    First needle Yifeng SJ-17 with Tinggong SI-19 and Tingui GB-2, then needle Zusanli St-36 and Hegu LI-4
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Sudden loss of speech:
    Yifeng SJ-17 with Tongli He-5
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Toothache with tooth decay:
    Yifeng SJ-17 with Xiaguan St-7, Daying St-5 and Wangu SI-4
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Lockjaw:
    Yifeng SJ-17 with Tianchuang SI-16
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Facial paralysis:
    Yifeng SJ-17 with Dicang St-4, Jiache St-6, Xiaguan St-7, Sibai St-2 and Hegu LI-4 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji and Baker, 2001, A Manual of Acupuncture).

Notes:

Ling Shu Ch. 23, On Heat Diseases, gives a different list of points for the "59 Piercings" to Su Wen Ch. 61 which includes a point behind the ear that most likely means this point.

In Mayan medicine:
Punctured for hearing problems, ringing and pain in the ears. Care is taken to avoid the vein and warm deer fat is rubbed on after until it hardens and is then covered to retain the heat (Garcia, Sierra, Balam, 1999: Wind in the Blood)

Medieval phlebotomy point (Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov). There also appears to be one in or on the ear itself.

Galen recommended arteriotomy "behind the ear" and so probably at this point, or on the occipital artery at Qimai SJ-18 or Luxi SJ-19 for scotomatics (blind spots) and people with "chronic hot and spiritous pains in the head" (Brain, 1986, Galen on Bloodletting, p.97).

Aretaeus performed arteriotomy in front (probably Taiyang) and behind the ears for epilepsy (ibid.: p.97, footnote).

In ayurvedic medicine:
Vidhuram marma point
Size: 1/2 angula (cun)
Structure: Tendon
Effect of Injury: Disability (vaikalyakar marma); Loss of hearing
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda locate the Karnamula point here or at GB-12 and associate it with the doshas: Prana Vayu, Apana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta and Tarpaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Benefits facial nerves, especially in cases of Bell's palsy
- Relieves pain and headaches
- Enhances kidney function

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