四神聰 : Sishencong : Four Spirit Brightenings

Location Guides:

Location:

Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around Baihui Du-20 and located 1 cun anterior, posterior and lateral to it.

Needling:

Transverse insertion 0.5 - 1.5 cun

TCM Actions:

Calms the Shen
Pacifies Wind
Benefits the eyes and ears

TCM Indications:

• Windstroke (中風, Zhong Feng), epilepsy, Mania-Withdrawal (癲狂, Dian Kuang), insomnia, poor memory.
  
• One-sided and generalised headache, dizziness, deafness, disorders of the eyes.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Greater occiptial from C2 and ophthalamic branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V1)

Dermatome Segment: C2, CN V1

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Notes:

Very commonly used for all manner of brain disorders, or as a way to reinforce Baihui Du-20. Although not mentioned in its TCM actions it is a common local point for Liver Blood deficiency patterns affecting the head, helping to raise Blood through the internal channel of the Liver which terminates at the vertex. The actions it has, to pacify Wind and benefit the eyes and ears, may stem directly from this action: extinguishing Wind that is affecting the head by raising Blood which would also moisten the eyes.

Among the scalp points and the associations given, Sishencong forms an image of a private sacred ceremony of the ancient emperor in worship of the sun. The Sovereign is at the supreme Yang point at Baihui Du-20, performing a ceremony toward the sun, Taiyang at Houding Du-19, flanked slightly behind by his mentors at Tongtian Bl-7 and protected from interruption by his closest guard at Qianding Du-21.

In ayurvedic medicine:
Simantaka marma point
Size: 1 angula (cun)
Structure: Joint
Effect of Injury: Premature death (kalantar pranahar marma)
(Harish Johari, 1996, Ayurvedic Massage, Sanatan Society; Anupama Bhattacharya, n.d. Marma Shastra)

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here