Atlas of Acupuncture

4.3 The Stomach Channel System – Foot yangming(zu yang ming jing luo)

Location

1.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline, on the level of the laryn-

geal prominence and at the anterior border of the sternocleido-

mastoid muscle.

How to find

From the laryngeal prominence, palpate posteriorly to the anterior

border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (➞3.2). ST-9is located

at the anterior border of the muscle, which becomes more clearly

visible and palpable if the patient’s head is turned in the opposite

direction.

Located on the same level are ➞S.I.-16on the posterior border

of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and L.I.-18between the two

heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Needling

If necessary, move the head to its normal position before

needling. Caution: Carotid artery, carotid sinus, jugular veins.

The carotid artery is located directly at the anterior border of the

sternocleidomastoid muscle. The needle should be inserted

anterior to where you can feel the pulsating of the carotid artery.

Vertically 0.5–1 cun between the artery and the thyroid cartilage.

For reasons of safety, the artery should be held in a lateral posi-

tion with one finger of the palpating hand above and one finger

below the insertion site. Irritation of the carotid sinus can lead to

a lowering of the blood pressure and fainting!

Actions/Indications

● Regulates the Qi

● Opens the channel

● Harmonises excess or deficiency in the thorax

Special features

Window of Heaven point, Sea of Qi point, meeting point with

the G.B. channel.

Man’s Welcome RENYING ST-9

Laryngeal

prominence

Clavicular head

Sternal head

Sternocleidomastoid

ST-9 L.I.-18 S.I.-16

G.B.-2

G.B.-12

S.I.-17

S.I.-16

L.I.-17

ST-9

ST-12

T.B.-16

T.B.-17

ST-7

G.B.-20

ST-5 ST-6

S.I.-18

Ren-23 L.I.-18

ST-11

Ex-HN

(anmian)

Thyroid

cartilage

Hyoid bone

Superior

thyroid

notch

Tracheal

cartilage

**

Laryngeal

prominence Transverse cervical nerve

External jugular vein

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