Atlas of Acupuncture

4.6 The Small Intestine Channel System – Hand taiyang(shou tai yang jing luo)

Location

Anterior to the ear, with the mouth open at the level of the middle

of the tragus, in a depression between the tragus and condyloid

process of the mandible.

How to find

Locate and needle this point with the mouth open. This allows

the condyloid process of the mandible to slide anteriorly and

reveals the depression. Locate the vertical sulcus at the junction

between the ear and the cheek (this is not always very pro-

nounced). Then locate S.I.-19on the level of the tragus on the

sulcus. If you cannot clearly define the sulcus (it becomes more

pronounced with increasing age), an (ear) point locator can be

used to locate the point (the patient should have their mouth

open in order to reveal the depression).

S.I.-19is the centre point of three points located anteriorly to the

ear (➞T.B.-21is located proximal and ➞G.B.-2is located

distal to S.I.-19).

Needling

0.5–1 cun vertically or slightly obliquely in an inferior direction.

Needle with the mouth open (to avoid intra-articular needling).

Caution: This point is located close to the superficial temporal artery

and the auriculotemporal nerve (as are ➞T.B.-21and ➞G.B.-2).

Actions/Indications

● Benefits the ears

● Calms the shen

Special features

Meeting point with the Gall Bladder and Triple Burner channels,

exit point. Important local point for disorders of the ears. For

temporomandibular joint dysfunction and pain, rather use

➞G.B.-2as a local point.

Palace of Hearing TINGGONG S.I.-19

S.I.-19

G.B.-2

T.B.-21

Needle insertion

with the mouth

slightly open

Tragus

Mouth closed*

Mouth open*

Styloid

process

Condyloid process

of the mandible

T.B.-21

S.I.-19

G.B.-2

G.B.-12

ST 8

Du-20

G.B.-18

T.B.-17

Ma 7

G.B.-14

G.B.-8

G.B.-20

S.I.-18

T.B.-20

G.B.-1Ex-HN 5

G.B.-11 G.B.-19

G.B.-13

T.B.-23

Ex-HN

(anmian)

Helix

Antitragus

Antihelix

Lobe

Helix root

Tragus

Intertragic

notch

Supratragic

notch SJ 17

Ex-HN Mastoid process

(anmian)

Ex-HN 14

(yiming)

G.B.-12

Helix

T.B.-22

T.B.-21

S.I.-19

G.B.-2

Sternocleidomastoid

Transverse process

of the atlas

Intertragic notch

Tragus

Supratragic notch

* According to Deadman et al 1998.

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