Atlas of Acupuncture

5 The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (qi jing ba mai) with Points

Location

On the midline, below the spinous process of the 9th thoracic

vertebra (T9).

How to find

Locate T7 (➞3.4.2) and, from there, count down 2 spinous

processes to T9. Locate Du-8on the midline, below its spinous

process. Or:Use the Tuffier’s line for reference (➞3.4.3).

Locate T9 by counting up from L4 and there locate Du-8on the

midline, below the spinous process.

Located on the same level are a point of ➞Ex-B-2/BL-18/

BL-47(0.5/1.5/3 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

0.5–1 cun strictly vertically to the skin or obliquely in an inferior

direction, with the patient’s back straight or flexed in order to

avoid puncturing the spinal canal. Oblique insertions should

only be carried out by experienced practitioners, as in small per-

sons (irrespective of their body weight), the spinal canal may be

reached after only 1.25 cun.

Actions/Indications

● Soothes the Liver

● Dispels Wind

● Calms the shen

Du-8 Sinew Contraction JINSUO

Du-8

Spinous process C7

Midline

Spinous process T3

Spinous process T7

Base of the

scapular spine

Inferior

angle

Spinous process T10

Spinous process T9

15

17

18

20

14

12

8

49 6

47

46

44

42

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

S.I.-12

S.I.-10

11 13

13

11

9

S.I.-15

Ex-B-3

Inferior

angle

BL-18

Spinous process T9

Spinous process T7

Inferior

angle

Spinous process T9 BL-47

Spinous process T7

Spinous process L3

Spinous process L2

Spinous process L1

Ex-B-2

(parts)

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