巨髎 : Juliao : Great Crevice

Meetings:

Meeting of Stomach with Yang Qiao Mai and Stomach Divergent

Location:

With the eyes looking directly forwards, this point is located directly below the pupil, level with the lower border of the ala nasi, on the lateral side of the naso-labial groove.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.3 - 0.4 cun, or transverse insertion to join with such points as Dicang ST-4, Quanliao S.I.-18, etc

Classical Needling:

"The Yangming usually has much Qi and much Blood" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel can normally be needled or bled.
"The foot Yangming is to be pierced 6 fen deep and remain inserted for ten exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of three fen" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Elimates Wind, dissipates swelling and alleviates pain

TCM Indications:

• Pain and swelling of the external nose and cheek, nosebleed, toothache, swelling and pain of the lips and cheek, deviation of the mouth, aversion to wind and cold in the face and eyes, Superficial Visual Obstruction, excessive lacrimation, clonic spasm.
  
• Leg Qi (腳氣, Jiao Qi), swelling of the knee.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Infraorbital nerve, from maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (V2)

Dermatome Segment: CN V2 maxillary branch of trigeminal

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

When struck hard enough, this point will send a shock wave up into the front of the brain causing disorientation and great nausea (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Pain and swelling of the neck:
    Juliao St-3 with Tianchuang SI-16
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

The trigger point location for zygomaticus major would lie slightly inferior to this point, between Juliao St-3 and Dicang St-4 (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)

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