急脈 : Jimai : Urgent Pulse

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Doorway to the Earth Point

Location:

1 cun inferior and 2.5 cun lateral to Qugu Ren-2, in the crease of the groin, medial to the femoral vein. The femoral artery is located approximately midway between the pubic symphysis and the ASIS and the femoral vein runs medial to this and is approximately 1 fingerbreadth in diameter.

Needling:

Medial, slightly oblique insertion 0.5 - 0.8 cun

Warnings:

Care should be taken to avoid penetrating the femoral vein. The Essential Questions advises moxibustion only at this point, but modern texts indicate that moxibustion is prohibited here due to the proximity of both the femoral vessels and the pubic hair, and suggest the point should be treated by needling.

Classical Needling:

"The Jueyin usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Jueyin is to be pierced 1 fen deep and remain inserted for two exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"This point in mentioned as a means to locate Liv-11, but no needling depth of treatment advice is given" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Eliminates Cold from the Liver channel and benefits the Lower Jiao

TCM Indications:

• Pain of the genitals, pain of the penis, swelling of the testicles, uterine prolapse.
  
• Pain of the hypogastrium, Shan (疝) Disorder, pain of the inner thigh.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Ilioinguinal nerve (L1)

Dermatome Segment: L1

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Striking this point will cause the legs and even the arms to become weak, making the recipient to fall down. It also affects the Spleen causing the brain to suffer scattered thoughts (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Problems relating to the Third Level of Manifestation of the Soul, equivalent to the Manipura Chakra:
    Jimai Liv-12 or Ququan Liv-8 with Shaigu GB-8 with Daling Pc-7 and Shanzhong Ren-17
    (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls, see notes below).

Notes:

The Su Wen Ch. 20, Discourse on the Three Sections and Nine Indicators, describes "The heaven [indicator] of the lower section: the foot ceasing yin [locations]... the heaven [indicator] serves to examine the liver". Wang Bing's commentary says this means "This is to say: the liver vessels. Their movement can be felt. It should be taken while the person lies down - at the 'five miles' section in the hollow one and a half inches below the Sheep Droppings (羊矢) [piercing hole] outside the [pubic] hair line" (Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, trans. Unschuld & Tessenow, 2011). Wang (2019, Daoist Internal Mastery) interprets this to mean this point and Zuwuli Liv-10. For women he suggests Taichong Liv-3.

Important point on the 胯 Kua (hip-groin functional musculoskeletal region) that facilitates the opening and closing of the hips.

This point is indicated for issues relating to the Third Level of Manifestation of the Soul, or the Manipura chakra, manifesting in difficulties switching the mind off, becoming unconscious and sleeping. The problem is that the Lung qi is unable to descend into the formless darkness of the Kidneys or the Kidneys are unable to hold it here.

The specific purpose of this point is to prevent the Kidneys giving Jing to the Liver, arousing the Blood and causing dream states. The others in the set are Shuaigu GB-8, Daling Pc-7 and Shanzhong Ren-17.
During the Ming Dynasty this point was replaced with Ququan Liv-8 as points around the genitals became taboo (Yuen, 2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls).

All the points in this set have an association with Jueyin with a focus on the Pericardium and therefore the descent of Fire.

In Sufism this level would relate to the Valley of Knowledge described by Attar in the Conference of the Birds as:

"No one can find a fixed road in this place
Because there are many roads and different destinations;
And since many paths the wanderer sees
Each rise as his wisdom guides or foresees;
Each person marches till he attain his own perfection
Yet moods dictate friendship and one's action ..."

Here there are many paths all leading to knowledge of the Divine, which comes from the Heart and its willingness to sink into formlessness, rather than intellectual knowledge of worldly forms, which are revealed to be utterly useless.

In Mayan medicine:
Used to treat pain in the lower limbs (Garcia, Sierra, Balam, 1999: Wind in the Blood)

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