督俞 : Dushu : Governor Shu

Classifications:

Master Tung's Double Phoenixes
Master Tung's Behind the Heart points
Trigger point (Melzack, Stillwell & Fox, 1977, Trigger Points and Acupuncture Points for Pain: Correlations and Implications, Pain 3, p3-23)
Homeostatic point 21 (Ma, Ma & Cho, 2005, Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management)

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Location:

1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6).

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Needling:

Oblique insertion towards the spine 0.5 - 1 cun, or transverse-oblique insertion 1 - 1.5 cun

Warnings:

Perpendicular needling or oblique needling away from the spine carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.

Classical Needling:

"The Taiyang usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Taiyang is to be pierced 5 fen deep and remain inserted for seven exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).

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TCM Actions:

Regulates Qi in the chest and abdomen

TCM Indications:

• Heart pain, epigastric pain, abdominal distension, borborygmus, chills and fever, breast abscess, itching, psoriasis, alopecia.

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Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Posterior cutaneous thoracic nerves from T6

Dermatome Segment: T6

Deeper Structures: Dorsal rami of spinal nerves from T5 if directed inward and accessory nerve (CN XI) if directed into trapezius and dorsal scapular (C5) if directed into rhombus major

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Trapezius or rhomboid major at deeper levels

Myotome Innervation:
Trapezius: Motor - accessory nerve (CN XI), Sensation - dorsal rami of C2 - C3; Rhomboid major: Dorsal scapular nerve (C4 - C5)

Pain Referral Pattern:
Local to point and to chest

Indications:
Cardiac syndromes

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Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Striking here will cause Qi Drainage from the Lungs and disturb the Shen some time after the strike. If struck in the afternoon it could cause death if the drainage happens after midnight.

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Major Combinations:

• Psoriasis:
    Dushu Bl-16 with Geshu Bl-17, Quchi LI-11 and Xuehai Sp-10 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji and Baker, 2001, A Manual of Acupuncture).

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Notes:

In Master Tung's system a line of points corresponding to the inner back Shu points from T2 to T8, known as the double phoenix points (Shuang Feng), can be pricked to release a drop of blood in cases of pain or numbness in the extremities or arteriosclerosis.
They all relate to the Fire element and the Heart and so have the function of quickening the Blood in the Heart and the extremities (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).

Tung's Behind the Heart (Hou Xin or Bei Xin) points are located under spinous processes from T4 to T9, 1.5 cun laterally to T4 to T7 and 3 cun laterally from T4 to T6. They are indicated for "wool like furuncles", clove sores, weakness and debility of the Heart zang, Stomach diseases, acute heart disease leading to numbness and paralysis, wind-cold entering the interior, severe wind-cold, stroke, externally contracted diseases that manifest with papules. They clear heat from the Heart and Lung and release the exterior so are useful in dermatological disorders (ibid.).

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In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)

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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

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