瞳子髎 : Tongziliao : Pupil Crevice

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Confluent/Master point of the Liver and Gall Bladder Divergent Meridians (Chace, The Merging of Ways; Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
Binding point of the foot Shaoyang and hand Taiyang Sinews

Meetings:

Meeting of Gall Bladder with Small Intestine, San Jiao, Gall Bladder Divergent and Liver Divergent

Location:

In the hollow on the lateral side of the orbital margin, approximately 0.5 cun lateral to the outer canthus.

Needling:

Transverse insertion posteriorly 0.2 - 0.3 cun, or extend to connect with Taiyang (M-HN-9)

Warnings:

According to several modern texts this point is contraindicated to moxibustion.

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The foot Shaoyang is to be pierced 4 fen deep and remain inserted for five exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"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:

Benefits the eyes, eliminates Wind and clears Heat

TCM Indications:

• Eye pain, redness, swelling and pain of the eyes, lacrimation on exposure to wind, itching of the eyes, redness and itching of the inner and outer canthus, short sightedness, Superficial Visual Obstruction, dimness of vision, night blindness.
  
• Deviation of the mouth and eye, Throat Painful Obstruction (喉痹, Hou Bi), headache, pain of the supraorbital ridge.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Ophthalamic branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V1)

Dermatome Segment: CN V1 ophthalamic branch of trigeminal

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Internal eye obstruction:
    Tongziliao GB-1 with Hegu LI-4, Zulingqi GB-41 and Jingming Bl-1
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Superficial Visual Obstruction:
    Tongziliao GB-1 with Qiuxu GB-40
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Swelling of the breasts in women:
    Tongziliao GB-1 with Shaoze SI-1
    (Zhang Jiebin, 張景岳, 1624: Lei Jing Tu Yi, 類經圖翼, Illustrated Supplement to the Classic of Categories).

Notes:

When used as part of a Divergent Meridian treatment is paired with the He Sea point, or less commonly with the Yuan Source or Luo Connecting point of the channels (Chace, The Merging of Ways).

The proximity of this point to the outer canthus of the eye would make it a suitable candidate for a head-Shu point of the Yang Qiao Mai.

In ayurvedic medicine:
Apanga marma point
Size: 1/2 angula (cun)
Structure: Blood vessels
Effect of Injury: Disability (vaikalyakar marma); Loss of sight
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call this point Kaninaka and associate it with the doshas: Alochaka Pitta, Udana Vayu, Apana Vayu and Tarpaka Kapha.

They give the following actions:
- Benefits the yes, improves vision
- Relieves headaches
- Enhances circulation of aqueous and vitrous humor
- Opens nasolacrimal duct, relieves nasal congestion
- Relieves stress and tension behind the eyes
- Pacifies pitta dosha
- Can help to control lacrimation in patients with Bell's palsy

Sieler (2015, Lethal Spots, Vital Secrets, p.127) describes this point in Siddha medicine and martial arts as natcattirakkalam, "star vital spot", one fingerbreadth from the exterior corner of both eyes, best attacked using the snake mudra. Only 1/4 a mattirai of pressure should be used as more can cause death. Striking the point causes the victim to start sweating profusely, the eyes turn yellow and the ability to see and hear diminishes. To counter these effects a point on the side of the forehead are pressed or the kumpuvarmam "bud vital spot" on the breast is pressed also using 1/4 a mattirai of pressure. Later (p.162) he describes the same point on the opposite side to the one injured as a remedy to an injury here.

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

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