Atlas of Acupuncture

5.3 Du mai

Location

On the midline, below the spinous process of the 10th thoracic

vertebra (T10).

How to find

Locate T7 (➞3.4.2) and, from there, count down 3 spinous

processes to T10. Locate Du-7on the midline, below its spinous

process. Or:Use the Tuffier’s line for reference (➞3.4.3).

Locate T11 by counting up 5 spinous processes from L4 and

there locate Du-7on the midline, below the spinous process.

Located on the same level are a point of ➞Ex-B-2/BL-19/

BL-48(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 Middle Burner

● Benefits the spine

Central Pivot ZHONGSHU Du-7

Du-7

Midline

Base of the

scapular spine

Inferior

angle

Spinous process C7

Spinous process T3

Spinous process T7

Spinous process T11

Spinous process T10

Du-14

Extension and

flexion of the head

S.I.-15

G.B.-21

2 fingers on the

spinous processes

of C6 and C7

(^1) cun, 5
Inferior
angle
cun^1 ,^5
BL-19
Spinous process T10
Spinous process T7
inferior
Spinous process T10 BL-48
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