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SI-16 Celestial Window

天窗 〔天窗〕 tiān chuāng

Alternate names: 窗笼 chuāng lóng, Window Basket; 窗龙 chuāng lóng, Window Dragon; 窗耸 chuāng sǒng, Lofty Window

Channel: SI, hand greater yáng (tài yáng) small intestine channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the lateral aspect of the neck, slightly superior to the level of the laryngeal prominence, at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid (scm) muscle.

Classical location: In the cleft in the major sinew of the neck, below the corner of the jaw, and behind Protuberance Assistant (LI-18), in the depression where a pulsating vessel can be felt. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The ascending cervical artery. The cutaneous cervical nerve, the emerging portion of the great auricular nerve.

Action: Dispels wind and quickens the network vessels; quiets the spirit and nourishes the heart.

Modern indications: Deafness and tinnitus; painful swollen throat; painful rigidity of the neck.

Classical indications: Painful swelling of the cheek; wind stroke with loss of voice; throat impediment (hóu bì); manic disease.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.8 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 5‒10 min.

Point name meaning:

In this point name 天 (tiān), celestial, is a reference to the location of the point in the upper body. Just as a window allows movement of air (qì), the character 窗 (chuāng) may be construed as a reference to the point’s ability to move qì. SI-16 is employed in treating qì blockage disorders such as throat bi, shoulder and neck pain, and pain and swelling of the cheeks.

As a further analogy, we can picture the eyes and ears as the windows of the head. 窗 (chuāng) may be taken as a reference to the use of this point in the treatment of ear disorders such as deafness and tinnitus. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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