Acupuncture Point Zhangmen (LR13)
Location:
Lateral position; when the upper arm is abducted to close the axillary fossa and the elbow joint is flexed, it is located at the spot where the tip of the elbow touches the middle axillary line.
Function:
Soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen, clearing heat and promoting diuresis regulating qi and resolving masses.
Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-external objique muscle of abdomen-internal objique muscle of abdonen-transverse muscle of the abdomen.
In the superficial layer, there are the lateral cutaneous branches of the anterior branches of the 10th and 11th thotacic nerves and the trbutaries of the superficial thoracoepigastric vein. In the deep layer, there ate the 10th and 11th thoracic nerves and the branches or tributaries of the 10th and 11th posterior intercostal arteries and veins.
Indications:
Abdominal distention, borborygmus, pain in the hypochondriac region, vomiting, Diarrhea, and indigestion.
Prescription:
Combined use with TianxiSP18 (Tianxi (SP18)) for treatment of pleurisy; with Qimen (LR 14) Front-Mu Point of the Liver) and PigenEXB4 (EX-B4) for treatment of schistosomiasis; with Taibai (SP3) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Primary Point) and Zhaohai (KI 6) The Eihgt Confluent Point) for treatment of constipation; with Acupuncture Single Point Fujie, Neiguan (PC6) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) for treatment of gastroptosis; with ShimenCV5 (Shemen (CV5) Front-Mu Point of Sanjiao) and Acupuncture Single Point Sanyinjiao for treatment of sensation of gas rushing; with Ciliao (BL32) for treatment of pain along spinal column.
Methods:
Insert the needle subcutaneously to 0.5-0.8 cun depth; needling response: local numbness and distention; moxibustion: using 3-5 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 30 min.
Note:
Don`t puncture deeply toward the medial and superior aspect, or else the needle would penetrate the right lobe of liver on the right side or the spleen and splenic flexure of colon on the left side and cause an injury to liver, the spleen and the wall of intestine.