Atlas of Acupuncture

5.4 Dai mai

5.4 Dai mai

Synonym:Girdling Vessel

The extraordinary vessel dai maiis the only vessel (or channel)

with a horizontal pathway (except for luo-connecting vessels).

Relationships (➞1.7.3)

● Yin/Yang:chong mai/dai mai

● Central/peripheral:dai mai/yang wei mai. Regions supported

by this pairing: lateral eye region as well as temporal region,

ears, cheeks, occiput and shoulders. Opening point: G.B.-41

(zulinqi), coupled point: T.B.-5(waiguan).

Pathway

The extraordinary vessel dai maioriginates in the hypochon-

drium at the level of L2; according to many other authors it orig-

inates at ➞LIV-13(zhangmen) at the free end of the 11th rib. It

encircles the waist of the body like a belt. As it does so it passes

➞G.B.-26(dai mai) at the level of the umbilicus and below the

free end of the 11th rib, ➞G.B.-27(wushu) and ➞G.B.-28

(weidao).

Meeting points with other channels

Umbilicus

LIV-13

G.B.-26

G.B.-27

G.B.-28

11th rib

LIV-13

LIV-13(zhangmen): Anterior and inferior to the free end of the

11th rib

G.B.-26

11th rib

G.B.-26(daimai): On the lateral aspect of the waist, at the

junction of a vertical line through the free end of the 11th rib

and a horizontal line through the umbilicus, approximately 1.8

cun inferior to ➞ LIV-13

G.B.-27 Anterior

superior

iliac spine

G.B.-28

0.5 cun

G.B.-27(wushu): In the depression medial to the anterior

superior iliac spine, approximately level with Ren-4

G.B.-27 Anterior

superior

iliac spine

G.B.-28

0.5 cun

G.B.-28(weidao): Anterior and inferior to the anterior superior

iliac spine, 0.5 cun anterior and inferior to G.B.-27

Connections with other channels/Organs

● Gall Bladder and Liver primary channels, Kidney divergent

channel

● Kidney, Uterus

Clinical importance (➞1.7.2, 1.7.3)

● Controlsand encirclesthe horizontal channels like a belt

● Connectsthe upper and lower halves of the body at the waist

● Regulatesvaginal discharge

● EliminatesDamp-Heat from the Lower Burner, especially

from the genitalia

● Controlsthe shaoyangchannels, especially the G.B. channel

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