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DETAIL of Tianzhu (Ten-chu)

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Acupoint's Category:
Acupoints of the 14 Meridians - The 12 Regular Meridians - The Bladder
Meridian of Foot Taiyang
Chinese Name:
Tianzhu
Japanese Name:
Ten-chu
WHO No:
BL 10
WHO No (Old):
Source:
Miraculous Pivot
Name Explanation:
Tian, heaven; Zhu, pillar. Upper is considered to the heaven. The cervical spine
was called Zhugu (Pillar bone) in ancient times; the point is lateral to it.
Classification:
Specific Points:
Location:
In the posterior of the neck, at the same level as the superior border of the
spinous process of the second cervical vertebra(C2), in the depression lateral to
the trapezius muscle.
Location (previously defined):
On the neck, in the depression of the lateral border of the trapezius muscle 1.3
cun lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline.
Localization:
In sitting position with the head bowed slightly forward, first locate Yemen (GV
15). This point is located 1.3 cun lateral to it, at the lateral side of the trapezius
muscle.
Indications:

1) Diseases of Head and Sense Organs: Headache, stiffness of the nape and the
neck, vertigo, stuffy nose, anosmia, conjunctival congestion. 2) Other Diseases:
Torticollis and pain in shoulder and back.
Mechanism of Action:
1) The nape of the neck is the place where the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang
branches off as it distributes on the back. The Foot Taiyang Meridian dominates
muscular diseases, thus, it is useful for stiffness and pain of the neck, torticollis,
occipital headache and lumbago. This point can be used to expell pathogenic
wind from the body surface and dredge the meridians and collaterals. 2) The
Foot Taiyang Meridian dominates the superficial and is regarded as the fence of
the body. It is often the first meridian to be affected by exogenous factors, thus,
this point can effectively used for headache and sore throat in exogenous
diseases. Puncturing perpendicularly 1 cun and retaining the needle for 20-30
minutes, good results can be gained in acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis.
Method:
Puncture perpendicularly 0.4-0.6 cun. Moxibustion is applicable.
Acupoint Prescriptions:
1) Febrile disease without sweating: Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengchi (GB 20),
Shangyang (LI 1), Guanchong (TE 1), Yemen (TE 2). (A-B Classic on
Acupuncture and Moxibustion ) 2) Vertigo, blurred vision, proptosis of the eyes:
Tianzhu (BL 10), Taodao (GV 13), Kunlun (BL 60). (Thousand Golden
Prescriptions ) 3) Headache: Tianzhu (BL 10), Taodao (GV 13), Dazhu (BL 11),
Kongzui (LU 6), Houxi (SI 3). (ibid ) 4) Neck rigidity: Tianzhu (BL 10),
Qiangjian (GV 18). (Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion ) 5) Gastroptosis:
Tianzhu (BL 10), Dazhu (BL 11), Geshu (BL 17), Ganshu (BL 18), Sanjiaoshu
(BL 22), Chengman (ST 20), Liangmen (ST 21) (administered once a day with
warming needle, moxa cones may be added). (ibid ) 6) Thyroid enlargement:
Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengmen (BL 12), Lianquan (CV 23), Renying (ST 9),
Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Daimai (GB 26), Shenzhu (GV 12) (punctured
moderately). (ibid ) 7) Headache: Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengchi (GB 20), Jianjing
(GB 21), Qiangjian (GV 18), Dazhu (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16),
Touwei (ST 8), Tongziliao (GB 1), Taiyang (EX-HN 5). (New Acupuncture and
Moxibustion ) 8) Exophthalmus: Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhu (BL
11), Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Tiantu (CV 22), Shuitu (ST 10),
Renying (ST 9), Lianquan (CV 23), Zhongzhu (KI 15), Daimai (GB 26),
Wailing (ST 26), Tongziliao (GB 1), Sibai (ST 2). (ibid ) 9) Eclampsia (during
the period of attack): Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20),
Shuigou (GV 26). (ibid )
Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-trapezius muscle-medial border of splenius muscle of
the head-semispinal muscle of the head. In the superficial layer, there are the
medial branches of the posterior branches of the 3rd cervical nerve and the
subcutaneous vein. In the deep layer, there is the greater occipital nerve.
Remark:
By means of stimulating the ulnar nerve with surface electrode to induce

hypothenar activity, observation was made on the myoelectric amplitude of the


patients who were in the convalescence stage of cerebral thrombosis. Ths result
showed that puncturing Futu (LI 18) and Tianzhu (BL 10) on the affected side
for 5 minutes could increase the myoelectric amplitude (P< 0.05) and this state
lasted for 45 minutes.

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