Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-trapezius muscle-rhomboid muscle-erector spinal muscle.
In the superficial layer, there are the medial cutaneous branches of the posterior branches of the 4th and 5th thoracic nerves and the dorsal branches of the accompanying posterior intercostal arteries and veins. In the deep layer, there are the muscular branches of the posterior branches of the 4th and 5th thoracic nerves and the branches or tributaries of the dorsal branches of the related posterior intercosral arteies and veins.
Location:
Lie prostrate; at the level of the lower border of spinous process of the 4th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun apart from the posterior median line laterally.
Function:
Promoting blood circulation, regulating the flow of qi, and relieving pain.
Indications:
Rheumatic heart disease, epicarditis, vomiting, hiccup, dental neuralgia, neurasthenia, and intercostal neuralgia.
Prescription:
Combined use with NeiguanPC6 (Neiguan (PC6) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point) for the treatment of angina cordis; with TaichongLR3 (Taichong (LR3) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source Point) for treatment of hypertension; with ZhigouTE6 (Zhigou (TE6)) for treatment of intercostal neuralgia; with JianshiPC5 (Jianshi (PC5) Jing-River Point), SanyinjiaoSP6 (Sanyinjiao (SP6)) for treatment of Rheumatic heart disease.
Methods:
Insert the needle horizontally 0.5-0.8 cun deep; needling response: local numbness and distension; moxibustion: using 5-7 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 10-20 min.
Note:
Don`t puncture deeply, or else the needle would penetrate the transversospinal muscle-the external intercostal muscle-the internal intercostal muscle-the parietal pleura-the pleural cavity-the visceral pleura and the lung by its tip, and cause an injury to lung tissue, leading to pneumatothorax.
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