Atlas of Acupuncture

5.3 Du mai

Location

On the midline, below the spinous process of the 5th thoracic

vertebra (T5).

How to find

Locate T7 (➞3.4.2). From there, count up 2 spinous processes

and find Du-11on the midline, below the spinous process of T5.

Or:Locate C7 (➞3.4.1). Du-11can then be located by count-

ing down 5 spinous processes (T1–T5).

Located on the same level are a point of ➞Ex-B-2/BL-15/

BL-44(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

● Tonifies the Heart and the Lungs

● Calms the shen

● Dispels Wind and Heat

Spirit Pathway SHENDAO Du-11

Du-11

Spinous process C7

Midline

Spinous process T3

Spinous process T7

Base of the

scapular spine

Inferior

angle

Spinous process T5

Du-14

Extension and

flexion of the head

S.I.-15

G.B.-21

2 fingers on the

spinous processes

of C6 and 7

BL-15

Spinous process T5

Spinous process T3

Inferior

angle

BL-44

Spinous process T7

Spinous process T5

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