中都 : Zhongdu : Central Capital

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Xi-Cleft point

Location:

7 cun above the prominence of the medial malleolus, immediately posterior to the medial border of the tibia, in the depression between the medial border of the tibia and the gastrocnemius muscle.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun, or oblique insertion directed proximally towards the abdomen 1 - 2 cun.

Classical Needling:

"The Jueyin usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Jueyin is to be pierced 1 fen deep and remain inserted for two exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of three fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of six exhalations, and it is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Spreads Liver Qi and regulates the Lower Jiao
Regulates Blood
Drains Damp

TCM Indications:

• Shan (疝) Disorder, lower abdominal pain, hypogastric pain, diarrhoea, persistent flow of lochia, uterine bleeding.
  
• Damp Painful Obstruction (痹, Bi) with inability to walk, flaccidity and emaciation of the legs, numbness of the body, numbness of the hands and feet, cold sensation of the lower legs with inability to stand for long, hot sensation of the soles of the feet.

I Ching Hexagram:

䷟ Heng 恆 The Constant

Shared with Waiqiu GB-36. Balanced by ䷩ (Zhongchong Pc-9 or Zhongzhu SJ-3).

Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Saphenous nerve (L3 - L4)

Dermatome Segment: L4

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Striking this point will cause local pain, muscle spasm in the leg, nausea and Qi drainage. If hard enough they will have to sit down and recover so a good non-lethal point (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Oedema of the four limbs:
    Zhongdu Liv-6 with Xingjian Liv-2, Sanyinjiao Sp-6, Yinlingquan Sp-9, Neiting St-44, Quchi LI-11, Hegu LI-4, Zhongzhu SJ-3 and Yemen SJ-2
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Cold-Damp Shan Disorder:
    Zhongdu Liv-6 with Daju St-27 and Diji Sp-8
    (Haungfu Mi, 皇甫謐, 282: Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing, 針灸甲乙經, Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

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