兌端 : Duidan : Extremity of the Mouth

Location:

On the midline, at the junction of the margin of the upper lip and the philtrum.

Needling:

Oblique insertion directed superiorly 0.2 - 0.3 cun.

Classical Needling:

"It is needled to a depth of two fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of six exhalation, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Clears Heat, generates fluid and benefits the mouth
Calms the Shen

TCM Indications:

• Ulceration of the mouth, foul breath, pain of the gums, dry tongue, wasting and thirsting, disorder with much drinking, swelling and stiffness of the lips, ceaseless nosebleed, nasal congestion.
  
• Mania-Withdrawal (癲狂, Dian Kuang), epilepsy, lockjaw.
  
• Dark urine, vomiting of foam.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V2)

Dermatome Segment: CN V2 maxillary branch of trigeminal

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Stiffness of the lips and pain from tooth decay of the upper jaw:
    Duiduan Du-27 with Muchuang GB-16, Zhengying GB-17 and Ermen SJ-21
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Vomiting of foam:
    Duiduan Du-27 with Benshen GB-13 and Shaohai He-3
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Incessant nosebleed:
    Duiduan Du-27 with Kouheliao LI-19 and Laogong Pc-8
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with 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