氣舍 : Qishe : Abode of Qi

Location Guides:

Location:

At the root of the neck, superior to the medial end of the clavicle, directly below Renying ST-9, in the depression between the sternal and clavicular heads of the sternocleidemastoid muscle.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.3 - 0.5 cun

Warnings:

Deep insertion may puncture the lung

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

TCM Actions:

Benefits the throat and neck and descends Qi

TCM Indications:

• Swelling and pain of the throat, scrofula, goitre, stiffness of the neck with inability to turn the head.
  
• Dyspnoea, difficult ingestion, hiccup.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Transverse cervical nerve (C2 - C3)

Dermatome Segment: C2, C3

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

This point is known as the "Heart Starter" because it can used for this in emergency situations. In a healthy, conscious person such as an attacker, it will have the opposite effect and the heart will stop beating. Hard thumb pressure will then sometimes be enough to start it again.

Combined with a clockwise strike to the left pectoral and a counter clockwise strike to the right pectoral at Wuyi St-15 and Yingchuang St-16 points, and you have a very dangerous heart
stopper (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Swelling of the throat:
    Shuitu St-10 with Qishe St-11
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Goitre, tumours of the neck and swollen throat:
    Qishe St-11 with Tianfu Lu-3 and Naohui SJ-13
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Rebellious Qi coughing:
    Qishe St-11 with Pohu Bl-42
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Cough with Rebellious Qi dyspnoea, vomiting of foam and clenched teeth:
    Qishe St-11 with Pohu Bl-42, Futu LI-18, Tianrong SI-17, Lianquan Ren-23 and Yixi Bl-45
    (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:

This point would also be on the upper trajectory of the Chong mai in Jeffrey Yuen's descriptions (Yuen, 2005, The Extraordinary Vessels).

In ayurvedic medicine:
Neel dhamni marma point
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society)

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call this point Akshaka and associate it with the doshas: Prana Vayu, Udana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Ranajaka Pitta, Sadhaka Pitta and Alochaka Pitta.

They give the following functions:
- Regulates cardiac functions
- Calms respiratory distress
- Enhances cervical lymphatic circulation
- Regulates the functions of liver and spleen
- Improves health of the eyes, benefits vision

In Thai massage:
Acupressure point along the Lawusang (left) and Ulanga (right) sen lines running from the navel Shenque Ren-8 through the nipple Ruzhong St-17 up the side of the neck and terminating at temperomandibular joint Xiaguan St-7.
Indicated for asthma, breathing difficulties, lung and respiratory ailments.
(Salguero & Roylance, 2011, Encyclopedia of Thai Massage)

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