Atlas of Acupuncture

4.10 The Triple Burner Channel System – Hand shaoyang(shou shao yang jing luo)

Location

At the midpoint of an imaginary line between the spinous

process of the 7th cervical vertebra (C7) and the tip of the

acromion (lateral extremity of the acromion).

How to find

First, locate C7 (➞3.4.1) and the acromion (➞3.3.1), which rep-

resents the lateral extension of the scapular spine (➞3.3.1) and,

at its most lateral end, forms a flat surface superior to the head of

the humerus (acromial angle). Using, for example, the spreading

hands technique (➞2.3.3), determine the midpoint between C7

and the acromial angle. Located at the highest point of the shoul-

der is ➞G.B.-21. T.B.-15is located approximately 1 cun inferior

to ➞G.B.-21, on the superior angle of the scapula.

➞S.I.-13is located inferior to T.B.-15, directly superior to the

medial end of the scapular spine.

Needling

0.5–1 cun vertically or obliquely towards the neck or shoulder.

Caution: Pneumothorax.

Actions/Indications

● Opens the channel and alleviates pain

● Dispels especially Wind-Damp, unbinds the chest

Special features

Meeting point with the yang wei maiand the G.B. channel

Heavenly Crevice TIANLIAO T.B.-15

Spinous process C-7 1/2

Spinous process T-4

G.B.-21

T.B.-15

S.I.-13 Tip of the

acromion

1/2

Vertebral prominence,

spinous process

Scapular

spine

Deltoid

Teres major

External occipital protuberance

Sternocleidomastoid

Splenius capitis

Trapezius

Acromion

Scapula,

inferior angle

Latissimus dorsi

Trapezius (superior

fibres)

S.I.-13

S.I.-12

L.I.-16

S.I.-10

G.B.-21

T.B.-15

Trapezius

(inferior fibres)

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