海泉 : Haiquan : Sea Spring

Classifications:

Sun Si-miao Ghost point (4th trinity)
Xu Qiufu Ghost point
The tongue is a binding point of the hand Shaoyang Sinews

Location:

In the centre of the frenulum of the tongue between Jinjin and Yuye (M-HN-20).

Needling:

0.1 - 0.2 cun, or prick to bleed, or 1.5 cun directed towards Yamen Du-15 and the patient can then rest the tongue back down on the needle with the mouth closed.

Warnings:

The Spiritual Pivot warns against needling this point "to excess" since it may lead to incessant bleeding and loss of voice.

TCM Actions:

Clears Heat and reduces swelling
Generates fluids
Benefits the tongue

TCM Indications:

• Heaviness, swelling and pain of the tongue, lotus flower tongue in children, facial paralysis.
  
• Wasting and thirsting disorder, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hiccup.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and Hypoglossal (CN XII)

Dermatome Segment:

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Lotus flower tongue, swelling distention, extreme heat with difficulty in speaking:
    Haiquan Ex-HN-11 with Shixuan Ex-UE-11 and Jinjin/Yuye Ex-HN-12
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Throat Moth:
    Ex-HN-11 with Shaoshang Lu-11 and Hegu LI-4
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Self-harm, suicidal or self-destructive behaviour during the fourth stage of Ghost Possession:
    Bleed Haiquan Ex-HN-1 or Yintang Ex-HN-3 and Shangxing Du-23, moxa Huiyin Ren-1 and needle Quchi LI-11,
    (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls, see notes below).

Notes:

Ghost Points:
The fourth trinity of Ghost Points, consisting of this point, Quchi LI-11, Shangxing Du-23 and Huiyin Ren-1, is concerned with self-destructive behaviour, self-harm and attempts at suicide.

Guifeng, Ghost Seal, indicates that the ghost has placed its seal on your spirit, like a Daoist exorcist does with a talisman when they trap a ghost in a container.
Sometimes it is debated this should be at Yintang but in either case it is bled (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).

In the Twelve Branches the Ghost Points follow a cycle from top to bottom with this point representing Si, 巳 and the Spleen channel (Ayal, 2021, The 13 Ghost Points 十三鬼穴).

Medieval phlebotomy point (Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov)

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