耳和髎 : Erheliao : Ear Harmony Crevice

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Exit point to Tongziliao GB-1

Meetings:

Meeting of San Jiao with Gall Bladder and Small Intestine

Location:

Approximately 0.5 cun anterior to the upper border of the root of the ear, in a slight depression on the posterior border of the hairline of the temple, just posterior to where the superficial temporal artery can be palpated.

Needling:

Transverse insertion 0.3 - 0.5 cun

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

TCM Actions:

Expels Wind and alleviates pain

TCM Indications:

• Tinnitus, pain and heaviness of the head, headache, head wind, swelling and pain of the tip of the nose, nasal discharge, deviation of the mouth, lockjaw, swelling of the submandibular region of the neck, clonic spasm.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Auriculo-temporal nerve from posterior division of mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V3)

Dermatome Segment: CN V3 mandibular branch of trigeminal

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621), Article 21: Delayed Death Touches with Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Diagrams. This point along with Xinhui Du-22, Huiyin Ren-1 and Ququan Liv-8 are associated with Mao 卯 Rabbit (5-7 am) and if struck during this time is said to cause death within 1 day from trauma to the brachial artery (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).

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

Major Combinations:

• Deafness:
    Erheliao SJ-22 with Zhongzhu SJ-3, Waiguan SJ-5, Tinghui GB-2, Tinggong SI-19, Hegu LI-4, Shangyang LI-1 and Zhongchong Pc-9
    (Xu Jun, 許浚, 1611: Dong Yi Bao Jian, 東醫寶鑑, Precious Mirror of Oriental Medicine).
  
  
• Wind headache; Erheliao SJ-22 with Sizhukong SJ-23, Qimai SJ-18, Zanzhu Bl-2, Chenguang Bl-6 and Shenshu Bl-23
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Loss of smell:
    Erheliao SJ-22 with Yingxiang LI-20, Yintang Ex-HN-3, Jingming Bl-1, Meichong Bl-3, Shangxing Du-23, Hegu LI-4 and Ear Shenmen
    (Empirical combination from western anosmia specialist in Germany).

Notes:

The Su Wen Ch. 20, Discourse on the Three Sections and Nine Indicators, describes "the moving vessels in front of the ears." as the "The man [indicator] of the upper section... The man [indicator] serves to examine the qi of ears and eyes". Wang Bing's commentary says this means "The movement of the qi of the hand minor yang vessels [can be felt] there" suggesting it indicates the health of the San Jiao channel (Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, trans. Unschuld & Tessenow, 2011).

In early Chinese medicine, the pulse felt near this point, between the eye and the ear, was taken as an indication of the health of the San Jiao channel (Wang et al., 2012).

In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings).

Venesection point, called Itag Ral (Occipital Sword) measured by finding the upper part of the vena temporalis approx. 2 cun anterior to the ear and posterior to the hairline. Its is indicated for:

- Migraine, chronic headache
- Unilateral headache
- Facial nerve pain
- Ear pain
- Eye pain
- Sinus problems
- Nausea, especially after fatty food and alcohol

(Chenagtsang & Nguyen, 2017, Sowa Rigpa Points).

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