Acupuncture Point Zhigou (TE6)
Location:
Strech the arm, pronate the palm; 3 cun directly above the midpoint of the dorsal stria of the wrist, between ulna and radius, on the opposite side of JianshiPC5(Jianshi (PC5) Jing-River Point).
Function:
Clearing away the heat from Sanjiao, removing fire, and regulating qi of the Fu-organs.
Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-extensor muscle of little finger-long extensor muscle of thumb-intersseous membrane of forearm.
In the superficial layer, there are the posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm and the tributaries of the cephalic and basilic veins. In the deep layer, there are the posterior interosseous artery and vein and the posterior interosseous nerve.
Indications:
Habitual constipation, intercostal neuralgia, pain in the shoulder and arm, angina pectoris, myocarditis, pleuritis, pneumonia, hypogalactia, erysipelas, paralysis of the upper limbs, acute paralysis of hyoglossal muscle, vomiting, puerperal faintness. It is one of the most commonly used points for acuInsert the needle anaesthesia.
Prescription:
Combined use with YanglingquanGB34 (Acupuncture Single Point Yanglingquan (GB34) He-Sea Point, Influential Point of Tendon) for treatment of intercostal neuralgia; with ZhaohaiKI6 (Zhaohai (KI 6) The Eihgt Confluent Point) for treatment of habitual constipation; with ZhangmenLR13 (Zhangmen (LR 13)Front-Mu Point of the Spleen, Influential Point of Zang Organs) for treatment of scrofula; with TianshuST25 (Tianshu (ST25) Front-Mu Point of the Large Intestine) for treatment of vomiting and Diarrhea due to cholera morbus; with ZusanliST36(Zusanli (ST36) He-Sea Point), and SanyinjiaoSP6 (Sanyinjiao (SP6)) for treatment of puerperal faintness; with GuanchongTE1 (Guanchong (TE 1) Jing-Well Point) for treatment of pain in the shoulder and arm; and with TaixiKI3(Taixi (KI3) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source Point), and RanguKI2 (Rangu (KI 2) Ying-Spring Point) for treatment of the heart disease.
Methods:
Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.7-1 cun deep; needling response: local numbness and distension, radiating toward the hand; moxibustion: using 3-5 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 10 min.