靈墟 : Lingxu : Spirit Ruin

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Spirit point
Front Shu of the Chest for the Liver (pre- and post-natal) on the upper Chong Mai trajectory (Yuen, 2005, The Extraordinary Vessels, Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
Trigger point (Melzack, Stillwell & Fox, 1977)

Location:

In the third intercostal space, 2 cun lateral to the midline.

Needling:

Transverse-oblique insertion, directed laterally along the intercostal space 0.5 - 1 cun

Warnings:

Deep perpendicular or oblique needling may puncture the lung.

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyin usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The foot Shaoyin is to be pierced 2 fen deep and remain inserted for three exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"Locate it with (the patient) lying supine. It is needled to a depth of four fen and is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Unbinds the chest
Lowers rebellious Lung and Stomach Qi
Benefits the breasts

TCM Indications:

• Cough asthma, wheezing, distension and pain of the chest and lateral costal region with difficulty in breathing, vomiting, inability to eat and drink, no pleasure in eating.
  
• Breast abscess, palpitations, agitation and fullness.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Anterior cutaneous thoracic nerve from T4

Dermatome Segment: T4

Deeper Structures: Neuromuscular junction of medial pectoral nerve with the pectoral muscle ( C8 - T1)

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Pectoralis major (sternal head)

Pain Referral Pattern:
Local to point and across chest

Indications:
Cardiac syndromes

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621), Article 21: Delayed Death Touches with Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Diagrams. This point is associated with You 酉 Cock (5-7 pm) and if struck during this time while pressing Laogong Pc-8 is said to cause death within 2 days from trauma to the left innominate artery (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).

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

Major Combinations:

• Vomiting with fullness of chest:
    Lingxu Kid-24 with Shencang Kid-25, Shufu Kid-27 and Juque Ren-14
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).

Notes:

One of the twelve shu points of the chest mentioned in the Su Wen Ch. 58, along with Bulang Kid-22, Shenfeng Kid-23, Shencang Kid-25, Yuzhong Kid-26 and Shufu Kid-27.

In TCM these are employed for wheezing, dyspnoea and coughing due to 'fullness above and deficiency below' due to weak kidney qi not grasping lung qi (Deadman et al, 2001).

Yuen (2005, The Extraordinary Vessels) believes these points, when related to the front Shu points of the Chong mai are located at 0.5 cun from the midline.

In five element acupuncture indicated for depleted spirit, depression, deep loss of sense of self.

In Mayan medicine:
Combined with Bulang Kid-22, Shenfeng Kid-23, Shencang Kid-25 and Yuzhong Kid-26 to reinforce Tiantu Ren-22 in treatments of asthma (Garcia, Sierra, Balam, 1999: Wind in the Blood)

Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda call the six point from Kid-22 to Kid-23 (three each side) Hrid and associate them with Prana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu Sadhaka Pitta and Avalambaka Kapha.

They give the following functions:
- Regulates cardiac function and heart rate
- Improves coronary circulation
- Maintains optimal function of lungs and airways
- Relieves congestion in breast tissue
- Enhances lymphatic circulation in chest area
- Calms mind, balances emotions, relieves stress

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