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Location Guides: |
Confluent/Master point of the Lung and Large Intestine Divergent Meridians (Chace, The Merging of Ways; Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
One of the "59 piercings" for clearing Heat in Su Wen Ch. 61
Binding point of the foot Shaoyang, foot Yangming and hand Taiyin Sinews
Confluent point of the Shaoyang and Yangming zones
Meeting of Stomach with Large Intestine, Small Intestine, San Jiao, Gall Bladder, Yin Qiao Mai, San Jiao Divergent, Large Intestine Divergent and Lung Divergent
In the supraclavicular area, posterior to the superior border of the clavicle and its midpoint, 4 cun lateral to the midline, on the mamillary line.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3 - 0.5 cun
Deep or posterior insertion may injure the subclavian vessels or puncture the lung. According to the Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and the Illustrated Supplement to the Classic of Categories this point is contraindicated in pregnancy.
"The Yangming usually has much Qi and much Blood" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel can normally be needled or bled.
"The foot Yangming is to be pierced 6 fen deep and remain inserted for ten exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of two fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of seven exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones. Unduly deep insertion causes counter-flow breathing" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Descends Lung Qi and clears Heat from the chest
Activates the channel and alleviates pain
Superficial Innervation: Supraclavicular nerve from C3 - C4
Dermatome Segment: C3, C4
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). In Article 24: Bronze Man Statue, which divides the body into zones associated with the Twelve-Hour branches (Shichen 時辰) going from top downwards, the carotid artery at this point and Renying St-9 are the vital points of Mao 卯 Rabbit (5 - 7 am) and considered most vulnerable to forceful finger pressure during this time (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).
This point makes the will to fight go away by causing great local pain and Qi Drainage, most likely breaking the collarbone. It also has an affect upon the communication between Yin and Yang in the whole body and drains Yang Qi due to its association with Dazhui Du-14, the meeting place of Yang. It can be used with Qishe St-11 to cause great Qi loss (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this point is a cavity pressing point (Dian Xue, 點穴). Pressing or striking this point can agitate the lung and cause coughing. A serious attack can seal the breath (Bi Qi, 閉氣) (Yang, 2004, Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition).
An alternate translation of this point name is "Broken Dish" and derives from the semi-circular shape of the whole supraclavicular fossa. It used to refer to the whole area rather than a single point (Buck, C., 2014, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine: Roots of Modern Practice).
The "59 piercings" are named in the Su Wen Ch. 61 and mentioned in Su Wen Ch. 32 and Ling Shu Ch. 23 for treating Heat diseases. This point along with Dazhu Bl-11, Zhongfu Lu-1 and Feishu Bl-13 clear Heat from the chest.
Ling Shu Ch. 20, On the Five Evils, advises piercing either this point or Tiantu Ren-22 (depending on how the location "in the middle of the Broken Basin" is interpreted) along with Zhongfu Lu-1, Yunmen Lu-2 and Feishu Bl-13 for pathogens in the Lung.
When used as part of a Divergent Meridian treatment is paired with the He Sea point, or less commonly with the Yuan Source or Luo Connecting point of the channels (Chace, The Merging of Ways).
In Siddha medicine this point is referred to as Vilankuvarmam. Sieler (2015, Lethal Spots, Vital Secrets, p.162) describes a man suffering chest and back pain who is diagnosed with an affliction of one of these points. The remedy is to open the same spot on the opposite side.
In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)
In Thai massage:
Acupressure point (Salguero & Roylance, 2011, Encyclopedia of Thai Massage)
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
