Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-trapezius muscle-rhomboid muscle-superior posterior serratus muscle-erector spinal muscle.
In the superficial layer, there are the cutaneous branches of the posterior branches of the 2nd and 3rd thoracic nerves and the accompanying arteries and veins. In the deep layer, there are the dorsal scapular nerve, the dorsal scapular artery and vein, the muschlar brancues of the posterior branches of the 2nd and 3rd thoracic nerves and the branches or tributaries of the dorsal branches of the related posterior intercostal arteries and veins.
Location:
Lie pronely; at the level of the lower border of spinous process of the 2nd thoracic vertebra, 3 cun apart from the posterior median line laterally.
Function:
Relaxing the muscles and tendons and activating the flow of qi and blood in the channels and collaterals, and dispelling cold.
Indications:
Pain in the shoulder and back, trachelism, pneumonia, intercostal neuralgia, and accessory nerve paralysis.
Prescription:
Combined use with HeguLI4 (Hegu (LI4) Yuan-Source Point) for treatment of common cold; with DazhuiGV14 (Dazhui (GV14)) for treatment of cervical spondylopathy; and with ShenshuBL23(Shenshu (BL23)) for treatment of lumbar muscle strain.
Methods:
Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.5-0.8 cun deep; needling response: local numbness and distension; moxibustion: using 3-7 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 10 min.
Note:
Don`t puncture deeply, or else the needle would penetrate the levator muscles of ribs-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 and leading to pneumatothorax.
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