Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

In the supraclavicular fossa, superior to the midpoint of the clav-

icle, approximately 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

How to find

From the anterior midline, palpate to the midpoint of the clavicle

(
4 cun in a lateral direction). There, an imaginary vertical line

marks the midclavicular line. ST-12is located on the midclavicular

line, at the upper border of the clavicle, in the supraclavicular

fossa, lateral to the clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid

muscle.

Needling

Vertically 0.3–0.5 cun. The needle should be guided along the

posterior border of the clavicle. Caution: Pneumothorax, espe-

cially with emphysema; superficial and deep cervical arteries.

According to some authors, this point is contraindicated during

pregnancy.

Actions/Indications

● Opens the channel

● Disperses and descends the Lung Qi

● Clears Heat in the throat

Special features

Meeting point with the L.I., S.I., G.B. and T.B. channel

ST-12 Empty Basin QUEPEN

ST-12

(^1) /2 (^1) /2
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)
ST-12
Ren-22 ST-11
Clavicle
Minor supraclavicular fossa
Suprasternal Major supraclavicular fossa
fossa
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