Atlas of Acupuncture

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

Location

On the midline, below the spinous process of the 7th cervical

vertebra (C7).

How to find

First, identify C7 (➞3.4.1): Place 2 fingers on the spinous

processes believed to belong to C6 and C7 and ask the patient to

flex and extend their head. In a fully functional spine and with

correct finger placement, C6 will glide anteriorly with neck

extension, while C7 will remain fixed. However, if the vertebra

below the upper finger does not move with neck extension, the

fingers will most probably have been placed on C7 and T1.

Locate Du-14below the spinous process of C7.

Located on the same level are ➞ Ex-B-1 (dingchuan)/

S.I.-15/Ex-B(jiehexue) (0.5/2/3.5 cun lateral to Du-14).

Needling

0.3–1 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. For persistent epistaxis, place a cold

metal object (for example, a spoon) or a cold cloth on Du-14.

Cupping on this point for acute colds.

Actions/Indications

● Clears Wind, firms and regulates the surface, dispels patho-

genic factors

● Clears Heat

● Calms (internal) Wind and the shen

● Strengthens Qi and Yang in deficiency conditions

● Benefits the spine, especially the cervical spine

Special features

Meeting point with all Yang channels, Sea of Qi point.

Du-14 Great Vertebra DAZHUI

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

Midline

Spinous process T7

Spinous process T3

Spinous process C7 Du-14

Medial base of

scapular spine

Inferior

angle

Extension and

flexion of the

head

Spinous processes

of C6 and 7

0.5 cun

Spinous process C7 Ex-B-1

Medial base of

scapular spine

Spinous process C7

Du-14

3.5 cun

Ex-B-10

Medial base of

scapular spine

(jiehexue)

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