大巨 : Daju : The Great

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Shokanten Nine Continents Point of the Lower Jiao, Yangming and the mouth and teeth
Master Tung's Bowel Nest Twenty-Three

Location:

On the abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the midline and 2 cun inferior to the umbilicus, level with Shimen Ren-5.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 1 - 1.5 cun

Warnings:

In thin subjects, deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity

Classical Needling:

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

TCM Actions:

Benefits the Kidneys and firms essence
Regulates Qi and promotes urination

TCM Indications:

• Premature ejaculation, seminal emission, irregular menstruation, difficult urination, retention of urine.
  
• Fright palpitations and insomnia, propensity to fright, agitation with thirst, loss of use of the four limbs, hemiplegia.
  
• Lower abdominal distension and fullness, Shan (疝) Disorder.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Cutaneous branches of thoracic nerves from T12

Dermatome Segment: T12

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Shokanten Yangming point which disrupts the communication between the Shen and Yangming, causing immediate emotional problems and if not treated by an acupuncturist, will grow into issues of not letting go and obsessiveness to extremes. Immediate effects will be great pain and Qi loss and knock out if the strike is hard enough (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Cold-Damp Shan Disorder:
    Daju St-27 with Diji Sp-8 and Zhongdu Liv-6
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Palpitations and insomnia:
    Daju St-27 with Qihai Ren-6 and Sanyinjiao Sp-6
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

This point is probably the closest traditional point to McBurney's point used for the diagnosis of appendicitis. It is located 1/3 of the distance from the ASIS to the umbilicus and positive on tenderness.

Shokanten points are often used in Japanese acupuncture to treat conditions arising from a psycho-emotional background. This point affects the Lower Jiao, Yangming and the mouth and teeth.

In Tung lineage acupuncture the Bowel Nest 23 (Fu Chao Er Shi San) are a group of points located in a line at 1 cun intervals between Ren-2 and Ren-10. An additional eight points on either side form a 4x5 grid at the levels of Ren-9 to Ren-5, also at 1 cun intervals. This would match with the alternative location for this point given in the Great Compendium. Ren-8, on the navel, is not included.

They are pricked using Tung's method in local disorders of pain, stagnation and heat in the abdomen such as uteritis, nephritis, umbilical area pain, enteritis, appendicitis and intestinal cancers (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).

In Bo's and Nine Palaces abdominal acupuncture, this point is located in the region associated with ☶ Gen, Mountain, the northeast on the right; and ☷ Kun, Earth, the northwest on the left.

In Bo's abdominal acupuncture this region is associated with the Upper Burner on the right and the Lung and Large Intestine on the left. In Nine Palaces abdominal acupuncture, this region is associated with the lower limb on the same side (Schelbert, 2014, Ryan, 2009).

The Stomach Shu are a proposed set of points that complement the Breast Shu. They are level with the Chest Shu and Front Mu points on the abdomen and receive the Blood and Ying Qi created through the action of the Spleen and Lung, via the Breast Shu, to distribute among the Zangfu. Whereas the Back Shu and Chest Shu deliver Yang and Yin Yuan Qi through the Bladder and Kidney Channels to the Zangfu, these points are focused specifically on postnatal Qi.

This point would be associated with the San Jiao, being in line with Shimen Ren-5 and its indications ranging from palpitations and insomnia (Heart/Shen signs), issues with urine and semen (Kidney signs) and Shan (疝) Disorder (Cold in the Liver channel) reflecting the San Jiao's relationship with these organs through the Jueyin and waterways.

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