陷谷 : Xiangu : Sunken Valley

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Shu-Stream and Wood point
Father point of the Stomach channel

Location:

On the dorsum of the foot, between the second and third metatarsal bones, in a depression 1 cun proximal to Neiting St-44.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 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, (the needle) is retained for a duration of seven exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Regulates the Spleen and dispels oedema
Regulates and harmonises the Stomach and Intestines

TCM Indications:

• Oedema, oedema and swelling of the face, pain and swelling of the eyes.
  
• Abdominal pain, abdominal distension and fullness, borborygmus, fullness of the chest and lateral costal region, belching.
  
• Fever with absence of sweating, cold shivering with Malarial (瘧, Nue) Disorders.
  
• Swelling and pain of the dorsum of the foot, difficulty in flexing and extending the toes.

I Ching Hexagram:

䷚ Yi 頤 Nourishment

Shared with Yinbai Sp-1. Balanced by ䷚ (Wenliu LI-7 or Kongzui Lu-6).

Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Superficial peroneal nerve from L4 - S1

Dermatome Segment: L5

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

When struck this point will cause great local pain and Qi drainage with a loss of power so great so that the recipient must sit down. It could even cause things like rheumatism later in life (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Counterflow Qi in the limbs:
    Bleed stagnant blood in the vessels, then needle Xiangu St-43 with Neiting St-44, Zulinqi GB-41 and Xiaxi GB-43
    (Anon, 400BC-260AD: Huang Di Nei Jing Ling Shu, 黃帝內經靈樞, Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: Spiritual Pivot, Ch. 34, On the Five Disturbances).
  
  
• Sudden swelling of the face:
    Xiangu St-43 with Shangxing Du-23, Xinhui Du-22, Qianding Du-21 and Gongsun Sp-4
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Facial swelling:
    Xiangu St-43 with Tianshu St-25, Fenglong St-40, Lidui St-45 and Chongyang St-42
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Oedema:
    Xiangu St-43 with Lieque Lu-7, Yanggu SI-5, Hegu LI-4, Jianshi Pc-5, Yanglingquan GB-34, Yingu Kid-10, Zusanli St-36, Ququan Liv-8, Jiexi St-41, Fuliu Kid-7, Gongsun Sp-4, Lidui St-45, Chongyang St-42, Yinlingquan Sp-9, Weishu Bl-21, Shufen Ren-9 and Shenque Ren-8
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Post-partum belching:
    Xiangu St-43 with Qimen Liv-14
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Borborygmus:
    Xiangu St-43 with Xiawan Ren-10
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Pain of intestinal abscess:
    Xiangu St-43 with Taibai Sp-3 and Dachangshu Bl-25
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

In five element acupuncture, as father point of the Stomach channel this can control excesses in the Stomach.

Ling Shu Ch. 19, on the Four Seasonal Qi, advises using the Shu-Stream points, unless the diseases are in the Fu organs, in which case the He-Sea points are chosen.

In reflexology this area relates to the breast and lung.

In Thai massage:
Acupressure point (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