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BL-10 Celestial Pillar

天柱 〔天柱〕 tiān zhù

Channel: BL, foot greater yáng (tài yáng) bladder channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the posterior aspect of the neck, on the lateral side of the trapezius muscle, 0.5 cùn within the posterior hairline and 1.3 cùn lateral to the midline.

Classical location: At the hairline on either side of the nape, in the depression on the outer face of the major sinew. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The occipital artery and vein.

Action: Dispels wind and disperses cold; soothes the sinews and quickens the network vessels; clears the head and brightens the eyes; relieves pain.

Modern indications: Headache; stiff nape; nasal congestion; mania and withdrawal; epilepsy; shoulder and back pain; febrile disease.

Classical indications: Dizzy heador heavy-headedness; nearsightedness; blurred vision with painful red eyes; tearing; eyes fit to burst from their sockets; pain in the vertex as if the top of the head were being pried off; nasal congestion and painful pharynx; aversion to cold; absence of sweating in febrile disease; child fright epilepsy (jīng xián) or other forms of epilepsy.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: pole 5‒15 min.

Point name meaning:

The two muscles at the nape of the neck (trapezius) appear like two pillars supporting the head (heaven). BL-10 may derive its name from its location on these pillars. The word pillar can also be interpreted as alluding to the cervical vertebrae, because in ancient times the vertebrae of the neck were collectively called 天柱骨 (tiān zhù gǔ), the celestial pillar bone. As might be expected from the point’s location, BL-10 treats disorders of the neck. The point name may also refer to the neck, which is yet another pillar supporting the head.

BL-10 is another of the many points that have star names: 天柱 (tiān zhù) is a star in the constellation Draco. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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