齦交 : Yinjiao : Gum Intersection

Meetings:

Meeting of Governing Vessel with Ren Mai and Stomach

Location:

Inside the mouth, in the superior frenulum, at the junction of the upper lip and gum.

Needling:

Oblique insertion directed superiorly 0.2 - 0.3 cun, or prick to bleed

Classical Needling:

"It is needled to a depth of three fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Clear Heat and benefits the gums
Benefits the nose and eyes

TCM Indications:

• Redness, swelling and pain of the gums, erosion of the gums, bleeding from the gums.
  
• Nasal polyps, nasal sores, nasal congestion, pain of the forehead and glabella.
  
• Excessive lacrimation, redness, itching and pain of the inner canthus, pain of the eyes and lack of clarity of vision, Superficial Visual Obstruction.
  
• Red face with agitation, jaundice, stiffness of the neck with inability to turn the head.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V2)

Dermatome Segment: CN V2 maxillary branch of trigeminal

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Major Combinations:

• Stiffness and pain of the neck with inability to turn the head:
    Yinjiao Du-28 with Fengfu Du-16
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Dian Kuang (Madness):
    Yinjiao Du-28 with Renzhong Du-26
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

Avicenna describes venesection at this point in his treatise On Venesection:

"A gum vein is venesected to treat problems of the stomach mouth." (Aspects of Treatment According to General Diseases, 21st section in Abu-Asab, Amri & Micozzi, 2013, Avicenna's Medicine)

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