交信 : Jiaoxin : Exchange Belief

Classifications:

Xi-cleft point of the Yin Qiao Mai

Meetings:

Meeting of Kidney with Yin Qiao Mai

Location:

On the medial aspect of the lower leg, 2 cun superior to Taixi Kid-3 and 0.5 cun anterior to Fuliu Kid-7, posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun

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

TCM Actions:

Regualtes the Ren and Chong Mai and adjusts menstruation
Stops uterine bleeding
Clears Heat and drains Damp from the Lower Jiao

TCM Indications:

• Uterine bleeding, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, uterine prolapse.
  
• Swelling and pain of the testicles, itching of the genitals, sweating of the genitals, Shan (疝) Disorder, night sweating.
  
• Diarrhoea, Dysenteric Disorder (痢疾, Li Ji), difficult defecation or urination, retention of urine, the five types of painful urinary dysfunction, qi painful urinary dysfunction.
  
• Lumbar pain, pain of the inner aspect of the thigh.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Saphenous nerve (L3 - L4)

Dermatome Segment: L4

Deeper Structures: Tibial nerve (L5 - S2)

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Causes confusion when struck and sleeping problems for the next few days. Often combined with Fuliu Kid-7 for greater effect (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Profuse and ceaseless uterine bleeding:
    Jiaoxin Kid-8 with Yingu Kid-10, Taichong Liv-3 and Sanyinjiao Sp-6
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Diminished Qi uterine bleeding:
    Jiaoxin Kid-8 with Heyang Bl-55
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Hip pain:
    Jiaoxin Kid-8 with Huantiao GB-30, Shugu Bl-65, Sanyinjiao Sp-6 and Yingu Kid-10
    (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:

Yuen's (2005, The Extraordinary Vessels) interprets the Yin Qiao Mai as the vessels of our approach to ourselves, saying that this point's name and its allocation as the Xi-Cleft point reflect an indication for people who need to change their self-beliefs.

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