胃管下俞 : Weiguanxiashu : Stomach Controller Lower Shu

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Master Tung's Double Phoenixes

Location:

1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eighth thoracic vertebra (T8).

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.

TCM Actions:

Clears Heat and generates fluid
Treats diabetes mellitus

TCM Indications:

• Wasting and thirsting disorder, dry throat, pain of the chest and lateral costal region, epigastric pain, vomiting.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Posterior cutaneous thoracic nerves from T8

Dermatome Segment: T8

Deeper Structures: Dorsal rami of spinal nerves from T8

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Wasting and Thirsting Disorder with dry throat:
    Weiguanxiashusanxue (Weiguanxiashu Ex-BW-3 triple point, i.e. with an extra point below spinous process of T8) with one hundred cones of moxa
    (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:

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).

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