十宣 : Shixuan : Ten Diffusions

Location:

On the tips of the ten fingers, approximately 0.1 cun from the fingernail.

Needling:

Prick to bleed. This may be followed by moxibustion.

TCM Actions:

Opens the portals and revives consciousness, drains Heat and pacifies Wind.

TCM Indications:

• Loss of consciousness, Windstroke (中風, Zhong Feng), summer-heat stroke, febrile disease, swelling and pain of the throat, Throat Moth, acute Childhood Fright Wind, clonic spasm, epilepsy, mania, vomiting, diarrhoea, numbness or pain of the fingers.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Median (C6 - C8) and ulnar (C8 - T1; little finger and half of ring finger only)

Dermatome Segment: C6 (thumb), C8 (little finger), C7 (middle fingers)

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Notes:

Almost exclusively used for acute conditions such as loss of consciousness where they are pricked to bleed and then occasionally followed by moxa.

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

In Thai massage:
Acupressure points. The ones on the little and ring fingers are indicated for ear ailments (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