Above the Curved Surround
Shǎoyáng Channel Points for Vision
We’re continuing discussion of cranial points for eye diseases, as described in the Mì Chuán Yǎn Kē Lóng Mù Lùn [秘傳眼科龍木論, Nāgārjuna 's Secret Ophthalmology]. You can read more about this text in the previous post. Let’s jump over the tàiyáng line (we’re posting some of those points on Substack notes and Instagram) and look at the shǎoyáng channels. The majority of the cranial points for vision in the Lóng Mù Lùn are found on the foot shǎoyáng gallbladder channel, with a few on the hand shǎoyáng triple burner channel.
Foot Shǎoyáng
瞳子髎 二穴。在目外眥五分。手太陽手足少陽之會。治青盲無所見。遠視䀮䀮。目中膚翳白膜。頭痛。目外眥赤痛。可灸三壯。針入三分。
Tóng Zi Liáo [GB1, Pupil Bone-Hole] 2 points. Located 5 fēn lateral to the outer canthus of the eye. Confluence of hand tàiyáng with hand and foot shǎoyáng. Treats blue-green blindness with loss of vision. Distant objects appear blurry. Superficial screens and white membranes in the eyes. Headache. Redness and pain in the outer canthus of the eye. One can moxa 3 rounds. Needle insertion 3 fēn.
Comment: Wiseman & Feng (1998) translate 青盲 qīngmáng as "clear-eye blindness". It is described in their Practical Dictionary as "gradual blindness that in severe cases can be total" and associated in the text with optic atrophy. Kovacs & Unschuld (1999) call the condition "green blindness" and note that it is "often identified with chronic glaucoma" (p246). According to Wiseman & Feng (1998) the condition is generally attributable to liver-kidney essence-blood depletion, together with central qì vacuity unable to raise the clear essence to the eyes.
頷厭 二穴，在曲周下顳顬上廉。手足少陽陽明之交會。治頭風眩。目無所見，偏頭痛。引目外眥急，針入七分。留七呼。可灸三壯。忌如前法。
Hàn Yàn [GB4, Forehead Fullness] 2 points, located below the curved surround [temporal hairline] of the temporal region in the upper part of the corner. Intersecting confluence of hand and foot shǎoyáng and yángmíng. Treats head wind dizziness. Inability to see things [loss of vision], one-sided headache. Pulling at the outer canthus of the eye. Needle insertion 7 fēn. Retain 7 breaths. One can moxa 3 rounds. Avoid as in the previous method.
懸顱 二穴。在曲周上顳顬中廉。足少陽脈氣所發。治頭偏痛。引目外眥赤。針入三分。留三呼。可灸三壯。忌如前法。
Xuán Lú [GB5, Suspended Skull] 2 points. Located above the curved surround of the temporal region in the middle part of the corner. Foot shǎoyáng vessel qì emerges here. Treats one-sided head pain. Pulling and redness of the outer canthus. Needle insertion 3 fēn. Retain 3 breaths. One can moxa 3 rounds. Avoid as in the previous method.
懸釐 二穴。在曲周上*顳顬下廉。手足少陽陽明之交會。治頭偏痛。目銳眥赤痛。針入三分。灸三壯。
Xuán Lí [GB6, Suspended Tuft] 2 points. Located above the curved surround of the temporal region in the lower part of the corner. Intersecting confluence of hand and foot shǎoyáng and yángmíng. Treats one-sided headache. Redness and pain of the outer canthus of the eye. Needle insertion 3 fēn. Moxa 3 rounds.
Comment: The locations here seem to be somewhat contradictory, with GB4 described as below the “curved surround” [qū zhōu, which is identified in Wiseman (2022) with the temporal hairline] and the other two points here above the “curved surround”. The same locations are found in Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng (Great Compendium of Acumoxa). In Michael Brown’s footnote to his (excellent!) translation of Explanation of Channels and Points, by Yuè Hánzhèn, he notes that the description of qū zhōu seems to shift from the temporal region to the jawline (Yuè, 2021).
Things mentioned earlier in the text to avoid include “raw cold food, chicken, pork, wine, wheat flour, the types of things that stir wind.”
I have found this section of the foot shǎoyáng channel to be very active in cases of eye pain and strain, as well as TMJ, tinnitus, bruxism, katakori (shoulder knots), and migraine (which is often one-sided). We had posted a while back on the formula Yì Gān Sӑn which applies to a lot of these matters. I usually palpate the line and pick the ropiest point. In severe cases of migraine or eye pain, I find contact needling is often more effective than trying to force a needle into the indurated tissue, which can aggravate the symptoms.
竅陰 二穴。在枕骨下。搖動有空。足太陽少陽之會。治頭目痛。針入三分。可灸七壯。
Qiào Yīn [GB11 Orifice Yīn] 2 points. Located below the pillow bone. Rocking [the head], there is a hollow. Confluence of foot tàiyáng and shǎoyáng. Treats head and eye pain. Needle insertion 3 fēn. One can moxa 7 rounds.
Comment: GB11 is a point I use often for eye or ear problems. Typically I will needle it with the patient prone, along with GB20 and points such as that. ]
本神 二穴。在曲差旁一寸五分。一日直耳。上入髮際四分。足少陽陽維之會。治目眩。頸項強急痛。針入三分。可灸三壯。
Běn Shén [GB13, Root Spirit] 2 points. Located to the side of Qū Chà [UB4] 1.5 cùn. Another [source] says it is directly over the ear, enters the hairline 4 fēn. Confluence of foot shǎoyáng and yáng wéi. Treats dizzy vision. Urgent pulling pain of the neck and nape. Needle insertion 3 fēn. One can moxa 3 rounds.
Comment: The half-cùn-in-the-hairline points tend to be calming as a whole. I seem to recall someone from one of the community acupuncture clinics deeming the point group “the tiara treatment” for stress and sleeplessness. But they are useful for eye issues as well.
陽白 二穴。在眉上一寸。直目瞳子。足少陽陽維之會。治頭目痛。目眵。可灸三壯。針入三分。一作二分。
Yáng Bái [GB14, Yang White] 2 points. Located 1 cùn above the brow, directly above the pupil. Confluence of foot shǎo yáng and yáng wéi. Treats eye pain and eye discharge. One can moxa 3 rounds. Needle insertion 3 fēn. Another [source] writes 2 fēn.
臨泣 二穴。在目上。直入髮際五分陷中。足太陽少陽之會。治目生白翳多淚。針入三分。留七呼。得氣即瀉，忌如前法。
Lín Qì [GB15, Overlooking Tears] 2 points. Located above the eye, vertically 5 fēn into the hairline, in a depression. Confluence of foot tàiyáng and shǎoyáng. Treats white screens forming on the eye and copious tearing. Needle insertion 3 fēn. Retain 7 breaths. Obtain qì then drain, avoid the same as in the previous method.
目窗 二穴，在臨泣後一寸，足少陽陽維之會。治目外眥赤痛。忽頭旋。目䀮䀮。遠視不明。針入三分。可灸五壯。三度刺目大明。
Mù Chuāng [GB16, Eye Window] 2 points, located 1 cùn behind Lín Qì, confluence of foot shǎoyáng and yángwéi. Treats redness and pain of the outer canthus of the eye. Sudden spinning head. Blurred vision. Unclear distant vision [i.e. nearsightedness]. Needle insertion 3 fēn. One can moxa 5 rounds. Puncture three times to greatly brighten the vision.
正營 二穴。在目窗後一寸。足少陽陽維之會。治頭項偏痛。針入三分。可灸五壯。
Zhèng Yíng GB17, Upright Provisioning] 2 points. Located 1 cùn behind Mù Chuāng. confluence of foot shǎoyáng and yángwéi. Treats hemilateral pain of the head and nape. Needle insertion 3 fēn. One can moxa 5 rounds.
承靈 二穴。在正營後一寸五分。足少陽陽維之會。治腦風頭痛，可灸三壯。
Chéng Líng [GB18, Spirit Support] 2 points. Located 1.5 cùn behind Zhèng Yíng. Confluence of foot shǎoyáng and yángwéi. Treats brain wind headache, one can moxa 3 rounds.
腦空 二穴。一名顳顬。在承靈後一寸五分。挾玉枕骨下陷中。足少陽陽維之會。治腦風。頭痛不可忍。目瞑。針入五分。得氣即瀉。可灸三壯。魏公苦患頭風。發即心悶亂目眩。華佗當針而立愈。忌如前法。
Nǎo Kōng [GB19, Brain Hollow] 2 points. Also named Niè Rú [Temple Region]. Located 1.5 cùn behind Chéng Líng. Tucked below the jade pillow bone [occiput] in a depression. Confluence of foot shǎoyáng and yángwéi. Treats brain wind. Unbearable pain of the head. Caligo [darkened or dim vision]. Needle insertion 5 fēn. Obtain qì then drain. One can moxa 3 rounds.
The duke of Wèi suffered an affliction of head wind. It quickly developed into heart oppression and chaotic dizzy vision. Huátuó needled this same [point] and he was immediately cured. Avoid as in the previous method.
Comment: This line goes straight up and back from the eye, and has many indications to improve vision, especially GB14 through 16. On these as well as the points on the foot tàiyáng bladder channel medial to this channel, the usual procedure I will use is to palpate and find points that either have that boggy depressed feeling, or produce a tenderness or radiating pain. Pick one or two of the most reactive points; it is easy to overdo it.
風池 二穴。在顳顬後髮際陷中。足少陽陽維之會，治目眩苦頭痛，目淚出。目內眥赤疼。目不明。針入七分，留七呼。可灸七壯。
Fēng Chí [GB20, Wind Pool] 2 points. Located behind Niè Rú at the hairline in a depression. Confluence of foot shǎoyáng and yángwéi, treats dizzy vision, severe headache, tearing from the eyes. Inner canthus of the eye red and sore. Dim vision. Needle insertion 7 fēn, retain 7 breaths. One can moxa 7 rounds.
Comment: GB20 is well-known and I use it often, but since my very early days in the profession I have also used what’s known as Yanagiya’s GB20, which is especially indicated for eye problems. Shudō Denmei sensei describes it in his book (Shudō, 2003). It is close to GB12, a little bit up on the mastoid process, and found by palpating. Usually found as a little nodule that produces a radiating sensation to the temples. Very shallow insertion just to the surface of the induration, followed by retention is usually the best technique.
Hand Shǎoyáng
瘈脈 二穴。一名資脈。在耳本後雞足青絡脈。刺出血。如豆汁。不宜出血多。治頭風眵蒙。目睛不明。針入一分，可灸三壯。
Chì Mài [TB18, Tugging Vessel]: 2 points. Also named Zī Mài [Supporting Vessel]. Located behind the ear root [at the] chicken foot blue-green network vessels. Prick to let blood. If [the blood] is like soybean juice, one shouldn’t let too much blood out. Treats head wind with cloudy eye discharge. Dimness of the eyes. Needle insertion 1 fēn, one can moxa 3 rounds.
Comment: The passage refers to a confluence of vasculature behind the ear, which resembles a chicken foot. The text’s warning on letting too much blood is even more strict in other works such as the Zhēn Jiǔ Féng Yuán, which says that, since the shǎoyáng channels contain little blood, any bloodletting on them can lead to deterioration of vision (Hayden, 2024).
角孫 二穴。在耳郭中間上開口有空。手足少陽之會。治目生膚翳。可灸三壯。
Jiǎo Sūn [TB20 Angle Vertex] 2 points. Located above the center of the auricle, when the mouth opens there is a hollow. Confluence of hand and foot shǎoyáng. Treats superficial screens growing on the eye. One can moxa 3 rounds.
Comment: I use this point mostly for tinnitus and TMJ pain, but it is indicated with direct moxibustion for cataracts (Shudō, 2003).
絲竹空 二穴。一名目髎。在眉後陷中。足少陽脈氣所發。禁不可灸。不幸使人目小。又令人目無所見。治目眩頭痛。目赤。視物眩眩。眼睫拳倒。針入三分。留三呼。宜瀉不宜補。
Sī Zhú Kōng [TB23, Silk Bamboo Hole]. Also named Mù Liáo [Eye Bone-Hole]. Located behind the brow in a depression. Foot shǎoyáng vessel qì emerges here. Moxa is prohibited; unfortunately it makes one’s eyes smaller, and causes loss of vision. Treats dizzy vision and headache. Red eyes. Vertigo when looking at objects. Eyelash curling inward [trichiasis]. Needle 3 fēn. Retain 3 breaths. Should be drained, inappropriate to supplement.
Comment: This is a point I use frequently for eye problems. I will often point the needle towards GB1 and retain it for a short while. I like to combine it with ST2 for an effective but easy and well-tolerated point prescription for patients with ocular pain and vision problems.
Okay, that’s all for now. Thanks for reading.
Note: this publication is for information purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please seek the opinion of a health care professional for any specific medical issues you may have.
References
Bǎoguāng, D. (n.d.). Mì chuán yǎn kē lóng mù lùn. Retrieved April 23, 2024 from https://jicheng.tw/tcm/book/%E7%A7%98%E5%82%B3%E7%9C%BC%E7%A7%91%E9%BE%8D%E6%9C%A8%E8%AB%96/index.html
Hayden, R. (2024). Like seeing black flowers: The treatment of eye diseases in the Zhēn Jiǔ Féng Yuán. Journal of Chinese Medicine, 135, 52-58.
Kovacs, J., & Unschuld, P.U. (1999). Essential subtleties on the silver sea: The yin-hai jing-wei: A Chinese classic on ophthalmology. University of California Press: Berkeley.
Shudō, D. (2003). Finding effective acupuncture points (S. Brown, Trans.). Eastland Press.
Wiseman, N. (2022). Chinese-English dictionary of Chinese medical terms. Paradigm Publications.
Wiseman, N., & Feng, Y. (1998). A practical dictionary of Chinese medicine. Paradigm Publications.
Yáng, J. (1601). Zhēn jiǔ dà chéng. https://jicheng.tw/tcm/book/%E9%87%9D%E7%81%B8%E5%A4%A7%E6%88%90/index.html. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
Yue, H. (2021). Explanations of the channels and points, vol. 2 (M. Brown, Trans.). Purple Cloud Press.