Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

On the lateral aspect of the neck, at the level of the laryngeal

prominence, between the two heads of the sternocleidomastoid

muscle (➞3.2).

How to find

From the laryngeal prominence (tip of the Adam’s apple), draw

a line across the sternocleidomastoid muscle to its posterior bor-

der. L.I.-18is located between the two heads of this muscle,

which becomes more visible and palpable by rotating the head to

the opposite side.

Located on the same level are ➞ST-9on the anterior border and

➞S.I.-16on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid

muscle.

Needling

Rotate the head back to its normal position before inserting the

needle. Vertically 0.3–0.5 cun or obliquely up to 0.8 cun. Caution:

Carotid artery, jugular vein.

Actions/Indications

● Benefits the throat and larynx

Special features

Window of Heaven point. Often used when swallowing is diffi-

cult, for example after a stroke.

L.I.-18 Support the Prominence FUTU

Thyroid

cartilage

Hyoid bone

Superior

thyroid

notch

Tracheal

cartilage

**

Laryngeal

prominence

Laryngeal prominence

Clavicular head

Sternal head

Sternocleidomastoid

ST-9 L.I.-18 S.I.-16

G.B.-2

G.B.-12

S.I.-17

S.I.-16

L.I.-17

ST- 9

ST-12

T.B.-16

T.B.-17

ST- 7

G.B.-20

ST- 5 ST- 6

S.I.-18

Ren-23 L.I.-18

ST-11

Ex-HN

(anmian)

Transverse cervical

nerve

External jugular vein

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