Acupuncture Point Geguan (BL46)
Location:
Lie pronely; at the level of the lower border of spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra, 3 cun apart from ZhiyangGV9(Zhiyang (GV9)) laterally, nearly at the same level with the lower tip of
scapula.
Function:
Regulating the flow of qi and lowering its adverse flow.
Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-trapezius muscle-rhomboid muscle-erector spinal muscle.
In the superficial layer, there are the cutaneous branches of the posterior branches of the 7th and 8th thoracic nerves and the accompanying arteries and veins, In the deep layer, there are the dorsal scapular nerve, the dorsal scapular artery and vein, the muscular branches of the posterior branches of the 7th and 8th thoracic nerves and the branches or tributaries of the dorsal branches of the related posterior intercostal arterior and veins.
Indications:
Intercostal neuralgia, esophagostenosis, gastric hemorrhage, vomiting, phrenospasm, and enteritis.
Prescription:
Combined use with NeiguanPC6 (Neiguan (PC6) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point) for treatment of intercostal neuralgia; and with FutuLI18 (Futu (LI 18)) for treatment of phrenospasm.
Methods:
Insert the needle horizontally, 0.5-0.8 cun deep; needling response: local numbness and distension; moxibustion: using 3-7 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 15 min.
Note:
Don`t puncture deeply, or else the needle would penetrate the levator muscles of ribs-the external intercostal muscle-the internal intercostal muscle-the parietal pleura-the pleural cavity-the visceral pleura and the lung by its tip, and cause an injury to lung tissue and leading to pneumatothorax.