Atlas of Acupuncture

4.4 The Spleen Channel System – Foot taiyin(zu tai yin jing luo)

Location

On the medial aspect of the foot, in the depression proximal to

the head of the 1st metatarsal bone, at the border of the red and

white skin.

How to find

When palpating along the border of the red and white skin on the

medial aspect of the foot from distal (toes) to proximal (ankle),

the metatarsophalangeal joint forms a prominent landmark.

SP-3is located just proximal to this joint in a clearly palpable

depression, which marks the junction of the head and the shaft of

the 1st metatarsal bone.

Located in a comparable position is ➞BL-65(proximal to the

head of the 5th metatarsal bone) on the lateral border of the foot.

In comparable locations on the borders of the hand are ➞L.I.-3

on the radial aspect and ➞S.I.-3on the ulnar aspect of the hand.

Needling

0.5–1 cun vertically or obliquely from medial towards lateral.

Caution: Needling this point tends to be painful.

Actions/Indications

● Tonifies the Spleen, harmonises the Lower Burner

● Eliminates Dampness and Damp-Heat

● Regulates Qi locally

Special features

Yuan-source point, shu-stream point, Earth point, ben point

(Five Phases). Important point for tonifying the Spleen.

Supreme White TAIBAI SP-3

SP-3

Head of metatarsal I

Border‘red/white skin’

Border‘red/white skin’

BL-66 BL-65 BL-64

Most distal

transverse crease

S.I.-3

S.I.-2

Junction

L.I.-3

Proximal

phalanx II

Metacarpal II

Navicular

Medial cuneiform

Metatarsal bones

Proximal

phalanges

Medial

Distal phalanges

phalanges

Calcaneus

Navicular

tuberosity

Base of the

1st metatarsal

bone

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