From Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, zhì zhēn yào dà lùn). Tension in the muscles of the neck; attributed a) to contraction of wind, cold, or damp evil in the greater yáng (tài yáng) channel, b) to invasion of wind toxin through wounds of the skin and flesh, or c) to damage to yīn through loss of blood, great sweating, or great heat [effusion] with insufficiency of liquid and blood depriving the sinews of nourishment. Stiffness of the nape is observed in cold damage, wind stroke, lockjaw, tetany, and crick in the neck.
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on GV, GB, and SI. Main points: GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī), GB-39 (Severed Bone, 绝骨 jué gǔ), and SI-3 (Back Ravine, 后溪 hòu xī); add points and select appropriate stimulus according to the cause. When severe, it is often referred to as rigidity of the nape and neck, which is associated with extreme heat engendering wind.