Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-anterior serratus muscle-external intercostal muscle.
In the superficial layer, there are the lateral cutaneous branches of the 3rd to 5th intercostal nerves, the long thoracic nerve and the lateral thoracic artery and vein. In the deep layer, there are the 4th intercostal nerve and the 4th posterior intercostal artery and vein.
Location:
Sit upright or lie on one`s side; at the juncture of the upper 1/4 and the lower 3/4 of the line connecting the centre of axillary fossa and the end of the 11 rib ( 12 cun ).
Function:
Regulating the flow of qi and promoting blood circulation, dredging the channels and relieving pain.
Indications:
Fullness of the chest, swelling of the axillary region, pain in the hypochondriac region, and pain and motor impairment of the arm.
Prescription:
Combined use with NeiguanPC6 (Neiguan (PC6) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point) for treatment of intercostal neuralgia; and with QuchiLI11 (Quchi (LI11) He-Sea Point) for treatment of tuberculosis of axillary lymph nodes.
Methods:
Insert the needle obliquely to 0.5-0.8 cun depth; needling response: local distention; moxibustion: using 3-5 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 5 min.
Note:
Don`t puncture deeply, or else the needle would penetrate the external intercostal muscles-the internal intercostal muscles-the costal pleura-the pleural cavity-the visceral pleura and the lung by its tip, and cause an injury to lung, leading to pneumatothorax.
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