肩髎 : Jianliao : Shoulder Crevice

Location Guides:

Location:

At the origin of the deltoid muscle, in the depression which lies posterior and inferior to the lateral extremity of the acromion.

Needling:

With the arm abducted, perpendicular insertion directed twards the centre of the axilla 1 - 1.5 cun, or transverse oblique insertion directed distally towards the elbow 1.5 - 2 cun.

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The hand Yin and Yang receive their Qi via nearby paths so their Qi arrive swiftly. The depth of piercing must not exceed 2 fen and must not remain inserted for longer than one exhalation" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"Locate it with the" (patient’s) arm raised obliquely. It is needled to a depth of seven fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Dispels Wind-Damp
Alleviates pain and benefits the shoulder joint

TCM Indications:

• Shoulder pain, heaviness of the shoulder with inability to raise the arm, numbness, paralysis and pain of the arm.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Supraclavicular from C3 - C4

Dermatome Segment: C4

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Pain of the arm:
    Jianliao SJ-14 with Tianzhong SI-11 and Yanggu SI-5
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Frozen shoulder:
    First needle Tiaoukou St-38 and ask the patient to rotate the shoulder while manipulating the needle. Then needle Jianliao SJ-14, Jianyu LI-15, Binao LI-14, Hegu LI-4 and Waiguan SJ-5 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji and Baker, 2001, A Manual of Acupuncture).

Notes:

In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)

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