Acupuncture Point Kufang (ST14)
Location:
Sit upright or lie supinely; above the nipple, at the midpoint of the 1st intercostal space.
Function:
Soothing the chest oppression and regulating the flow of qi.
Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-greater pectoral muscle-smaller pectoral muscle.
In the superficial layer, there are the supraclavicular nerve and the cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerve. In the deep layer, there are the branches or tributaries of the thoracoacromial artery and vein and branches of the medial pectoral and lateral pectoral nerves.
Indications:
Sensation of fullness and pain in the chest, cough.
Prescription:
Combined use with ChizeLU5 (Chize (LU5) He-Sea Point) and ZusanliST36 (Zusanli (ST 36) He-Sea Point) for treatment of tracheitis; with TianzongSI11 (Tianzong (SI 11)) for treatment of mastitis; and with Zhongfu (LU1), ZhourongSP20 (Zhourong (SP20)) and ChizeLU5 (LU5) for treatment of cough with bloody sputum.
Methods:
Insert the needle obliquely 0.5-0.8 cun deep; needling response: local sensation of distension and soreness; moxibustion: using 3-5 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 15 min.
Note:
Don't puncture deeply, or else the needle would penetrate the external intercostal muscles-the internal intercostal muscles-the parietal pleura-the pleural cavity-the visceral pleura
and the lung by its tip, injure the lung tissue and cause pneumatothorax.