伏兔 : Futu : Crouching Rabbit

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Binding point of the foot Shaoyang Sinews

Meetings:

Meeting of Stomach with Stomach Divergent

Location:

On the thigh, on a line drawn between the lateral border of the patella and the ASIS, in a depression 6 cun proximal to the superior border of the patella, or 1/3 of the distance from the superior border of the patella and the level of the greater trochanter, on the border of the lower and middle thirds.

Needling:

Perpendicular or oblique insertion 1 - 2 cun

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 five fen, and moxibustion is prohibited" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Activates the channel and alleviates pain
Dispels Wind-Damp

TCM Indications:

• Painful obstruction and atrophy disorder of the lower limb, Leg Qi (腳氣, Jiao Qi), pain, numbness and contraction of the muscles of the thigh, coldness and pain of the knee, weakness of the knee, lumbar pain, contraction of the arm.
  
• Shan (疝) Disorder, abdominal distension with diminished qi, dieseases of the eight regions in women, mania, ghost talk, urticaria, heavy head.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh from L2 - L3

Dermatome Segment: L2

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

This point is struck with a palm straight 180 degrees across the thigh, or with a stick, to paralyse the leg and shock the whole system, causing knock out if done hard enough (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Wind Leg Qi:
    First moxa Fengshi GB-31, then moxa Futu GB-32
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).

Notes:

One of the points in the Internal Dragons protocol in five element acupuncture, along with Jiuwei Ren-15, Tianshu St-25 and Jiexi St-41, for eliminating a blockage between the therapist and patient, or a disconnection from themselves, due to internal causes.

In Tung acupuncture a group of points called Si Ma, Four Chariots are located near this point. Si Ma Zhong, the Four Chariots Centre (88.17), is on the Stomach line, level with and 4 cun anterior to Fengshi. Si Ma Shang, Upper Chariot (88.18), is 2 cun superior to this and Si Ma Xia, Lower Chariot, 2 cun inferior, the closest to this point. They are indicated for allergies, sinus, skin conditions and all Lung problems based on the Stomach channel being Tung's Lung channel (Chu, 2015).

A medieval phlebotomy point is located near here but appears to be a couple of cun higher, approximately midway between the superior border of the patella and the level of the greater trochanter (Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov)

Avicenna describes cupping near this point in his treatise On Cupping:

"Cupping on the front side of the thighs is beneficial in swelling of the testicles and abscesses of the thighs and legs" (Aspects of Treatment According to General Diseases, 22nd section in Abu-Asab, Amri & Micozzi, 2013, Avicenna's Medicine)

In ayurvedic medicine:
Arvi marma point
Size: 1 angula (cun)
Structure: Blood vessels
Effect of Injury: Disability (vaikalyakar marma)
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)

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