Atlas of Acupuncture

5.7 Yin qiao mai

5.7 Yin qiao mai

Synonym: Yin Motility Vessel (Deadman), Yin Heel Vessel

(Maciocia)

Relationships (➞1.7.2, 1.7.3)

● Yin/Yang:yin qiao mai/yang qiao mai

● Central/peripheral:ren mai/yin qiao mai. Regions supported

by this pairing: Face, throat, thorax, Lung, diaphragm, abdomen.

Opening point: KID-6 (zhaohai), coupled point: LU-7

(lieque).

Pathway

The extraordinary vessel yin qiao maioriginates at ➞KID-2

(rangu) inferior to the navicular tuberosity (according to some

authors it only begins at ➞KID-6), runs to ➞KID-6(zhaohai) and

➞KID-8(jiaoxin), ascends the posteromedial aspect of the leg

to the external genital region, ascends the abdomen to the tho-

rax, crosses the supraclavicular fossa and continues to the throat

and face. It then runs to the inner canthus of the eye where it

connects with the Bladder primary channel and the yang qiao

maiat ➞BL-1(jingming). It then ascends to enter the Brain.

Meeting points with other channels

BL-1

KID-8

KID-6

KID-2

SP-4 KID-2

KID-2(rangu): In a depression at the anterior/inferior border of

the navicular bone, at the border of the ‘red and white’ skin

KID-6

ca. 1 cun

KID-6(zhaohai): In the depression inferior to the highest

prominence of the medial malleolus, over the joint space

between the talus and calcaneus

KID-7

KID-3

KID-8

2 cun

KID-8(jiaoxin): 2 cun proximal to the highest prominence of

the medial malleolus, posterior to the border of the tibia

BL-1

BL-1(jingming): In a depression 0.1 cun superior and medial to

the inner canthus of the eye

Connections with other channels/Organs

● Kidney and Bladder primary channels

● Brain

Clinical importance (➞1.7.2, 1.7.3)

● Together with the yang qiao maicontrols the musculature of

the lower extremities

● Together with the yang qiao mairegulates the opening and

closing of the eyes

● Regulates the functioning of the Brain

● Removes stagnation (of Qi, Blood or Dampness) in the Lower

Burner, especially in the Uterus in women

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